Apple TV+ hires new head of documentaries

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Molly Thompson brings decades of experience to the Apple TV+ management team.
Molly Thompson brings decades of experience to the Apple TV+ management team.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming streaming video service now has someone in charge of documentaries. Molly Thompson previously held a similar role at A&E Networks.

Action and comedy shows have so far grabbed the most attention at Apple TV+, but clearly educational programming will play a big part too.

Thompson’s mini-biography on LinkedIn says:

Molly is the founder and head of A&E IndieFilms, the feature documentary division of A+E Networks. Since its inception in 2005, A&E IndieFilms has gained an unprecedented track record, garnering four Academy Award nominations – for Life, Animated; Cartel Land; Murderball and Jesus Camp – along with hundreds of other awards and nominations. Molly also serves as executive producer for documentaries and scripted features produced under the HISTORY Films® and Lifetime Films® banners.

More about Apple TV+

Apple recently unveiled its upcoming streaming video service. During the unveiling, the company talked about high-profile shows like Stephen Spielberg’s Amazing Stories. And Jason Momoa will head up See, a sci-fi epic world-building drama in which everyone in the world is blind.

Which isn’t to say the company is overlooking documentaries. It recently signed a “first look” deal for films created by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries. Plus, Apple snapped up a nature documentary about elephants, and one based on the life of musician Ed Sheehan.

It will be Thompson’s job to handle further such deals.

Apple TV+ is scheduled to debut this fall. Apple has not yet revealed what it will charge subscribers.

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