Apple still has yet to debut any of its new crop of original drama shows, but in the meantime it is continuing to stock its Worldwide Video team with talented execs.
The latest hiring is former Viacom and Broadway Video (the media company led by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels) vice president Kelly Costello. She joins Apple as its new video-related business affairs executive.
In her previous role at Broadway, Costello oversaw the legal and business aspects of dealmaking for shows such as the popular Portlandia, in addition to a number of different stand-up comedy specials.
Other roles during her career included working as VP of of business and legal affairs for Viacom’s Music and Entertainment Group, head of Scripted (West Coast) for MTV Business and Legal Affairs, and business and legal positions at NBC Universal Television.
At Apple, Costello will be reporting to Philip Matthys, Apple’s head of business affairs. Matthys joined Apple back in late 2017, having previously worked at Hulu.
Apple’s growing slate of shows… and executives
Apple has recruited an all-star team of television executives in record time. So far, they have helped shepherd around 16 TV shows into development — in addition to the non-scripted series such as Carpool Karaoke and Planet of the Apps that Apple has already debuted.
On the creative end, Apple has brokered deals with the likes of Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Wiig, Kevin Durant, Ron Howard, Ronald D. Moore and M. Night Shamalayan to make content for the Cupertino company.
Apple has yet to reveal exactly how these shows will be made available to customers. Interestingly, while it is certainly nothing definite, the company recently signed a Writers Guild of America master contract promising writers greater benefits for shows that air for free online. That is in contrast to the subscription model that companies like Netflix have employed. Whether that offers a hint about Apple’s plans remains to be seen.
Source: Variety
