Bill Simmons hosted the biggest failure of a talk show on HBO since "Joe Buck Live." And yet, the Sports Guy has been rewarded with a new contract at the prestigious cable network.
The Hollywood Reporter says Simmons and HBO have agreed to a multi-year deal that will see him produce sports-themed content across its platforms. Simmons' documentary on Andre the Giant, which was released in April, became the most-watched sports documentary in network history, attracting nearly 7 million viewers. The film's success further supplants Simmons as one of the premier sports documentarians of our time, to go along with the creation of ESPN's "30 for 30" series.
"I'm thrilled to keep going with the HBO family and can't wait to get started on a couple of the more ambitious projects we've hatched," Simmons said in the press release, per THR. "I witnessed it firsthand with our Andre doc — when you create something unique for HBO, they've built so much trust and equity in their audience over the years that it's always going to be seen. Every single time. If it's good and it's on HBO, it will stand out. Even though we have more entertainment choices than ever right now, HBO still cuts through in an incredibly precise, almost unassailable way — and they work better with creatives than anyone, period. I am lucky to work with them and I know it."
Simmons may not have the same visibility since leaving ESPN. But his wallet doesn't seem to be hurting in the least.
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