We’re one month away from the return of Bill Simmons’ podcast, set to debut on Oct. 1. Though we know producing the podcast is part of Simmons’ deal with HBO, it’s still not yet known where exactly the podcast will be found, what its title will be, who will sponsor it, and other such details.
However, we do now have a better idea of what sort of competition HBO faced in landing Simmons. According to Re/code’s Peter Kafka, Apple talked to Simmons about an exclusive audio podcast deal, part of its initiative to create original, long-form programming in an effort to better compete with Netflix and Amazon.
Kafka’s sources told him the discussions didn’t get very far, but Apple senior VP Eddy Cue talked with Simmons twice during the summer about a deal. Furthermore, Kafka reports that Yahoo made a big run at Simmons, hoping he could produce content for its video platform. Of course, the speculation once Simmons left ESPN was that nearly everyone and anyone with an outlet — sports-related or otherwise — wanted to do business with him. Adding one of the biggest personalities in sports would have been a big fish to reel in.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 22, 2015
But what about a new home for Simmons’ column and a new sports-culture website that would essentially be the next version of Grantland? We have yet to hear any news on such a venture, though you have to believe it’s coming. The deal with HBO is exclusively for TV, producing content for both the network and its digital platforms.
Vanity Fair‘s Sarah Ellison wrote that “many expect Simmons to soon launch his own content site,” but wasn’t able to report any firm details. But maybe Simmons is waiting until some of those Grantland staffers are free from their contracts with ESPN. In July, Deadspin’s Greg Howard reported that the contracts for many writers and editors will expire in the fall and winter. (He mentioned Wesley Morris is in talks with the New York Times.) And maybe several of them are waiting to see what their former boss has lined up next.
[Re/code]
