Is ESPN's soon to be free agent Bill Simmons on the move to HBO?
Yesterday, The Hollywood Reporter published an extensive piece detailing HBO's in development shows and future plans and revealed that the cable giant may be making at play for the recently ousted Sports columnist and TV personality.
"....and, if all goes as planned, a platform for ESPN cast-off Bill Simmons. While HBO executives are staying mum, multiple sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the network is in talks for a major multipart deal with the biggest media personality in sports (more on that later).
HBO joins a list of suitors that includes FOX Sports, Bleacher Report, and Gawker. Simmons was also rumoured to be starting an online platform with soon to be ex Daily Show host Jon Stewart.
The Rift between Simmons and ESPN began when he made critical comments about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on his podcast last year. Simmons criticized Goodell's handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case call him a 'liar'. Simmons remarks earned him a suspension without pay and it seems they may have been the tipping point in his eventual axing from the company.
He was essentially sacked from ESPN earlier this year when the network publicly announced that they would not be renewing his contract. He will be paid until the expiration of his current deal in September, but he no longer has any roles within the company.
Simmons served at ESPN for more 14 years. During that time he cultivated one of the biggest fan bases in sports media. He began as a columnist but slowly became one of the most influential (and highest paid) personalities at the worldwide leader in sports.
In 2011, ESPN gave Simmons the creative control to start his own sports and pop culture website under their banner: Grantland.com. Aside from his writing and editorial duties Simmons had a number of other duties at the network like serving as producer for the documentary series 30 for 30, and co-hosting NBA Countdown and The Grantland Basketball Hour.
