Yesterday’s news that Jon Stewart is joining HBO might have come as a shock to some, but it is clear that the premium cable network is angling to add more media personalities to its stable of programming.
As we previously reported, Stewart has signed a four-year deal with HBO. While the only programming announced at the start is short-form digital shorts that will be posted on HBO Now and HBO Go, HBO is also probably thinking about giving Stewart his own weekly show.
For years, Bill Maher remained HBO’s only personality with topical targets. But within the past year and a half, the network has added three more. John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight has been a success since it launched in April 2014, so Stewart will actually be following his protege to HBO.
The network will also be jumping into sports. In July, HBO made the splashy move of hiring former ESPN personality Bill Simmons, who created the (now-defunct) Grantland site. Simmons will be getting his own show next year and HBO will have to figure out how to utilize his writing if he still plans on continuing to write at all.
HBO won an astonishing 43 Emmys in September, thanks to scripted shows like Game of Thrones and the miniseries Olive Kitteridge. Even though it feels like HBO has dominated the TV landscape for years (decades?) already, it could just be the start if the network is serious about adding more personalities. Could a nightly talk show on HBO be possible? It’s starting to feel like one is coming soon.
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