Amid rumors of Apple showing interest in generating its own original programming, Re/code reports that the company held talks with former ESPN star Bill Simmons aimed at signing the sports commentator to an exclusive podcast deal. Sources familiar with the discussions said Apple media boss Eddy Cue floated the idea to Simmons a couple times over the summer, before Simmons ended up signing an exclusive “multi-year, multi-platform agreement” with HBO in July that includes a podcast set to debut in October.
Apple also reportedly pursued the stars of BBC’s “Top Gear” for its own content — they ended up at Amazon. Before launching Apple Music, sources said Apple executive Jimmy Iovine was also toying with the idea of exclusive contracts for recording artists before settling on more modest exclusive offerings.
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