“Apple’s big TV push has added another a key player,” Lesley Goldberg reports for The Hollywood Reporter.
“Former WGN America president Matt Cherniss has joined the tech giant and will serve as a chief lieutenant to new co-heads of video programming Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg,” Goldberg reports. “His role is being described as chief creative/head of U.S. programming as Erlicht and Van Amburg eye a split of duties between domestic and international.”
“Cherniss, who stepped down from WGN America in June, brings a wealth of experience to Apple,” Goldberg reports. ” In addition to running a network, he has also overseen a corresponding studio and worked at broadcast (Fox), basic cable (FX) and a film studio (Warner Bros. Pictures). His time at WGN America was largely spent trying to put the former superstation on the map, which required making bigger, straight-to-series bets on shows including Salem and critical favorite Manhattan. During his tenure at WGN America, Cherniss expanded its distribution by nearly 10 million homes.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: It’s certainly nice to see Apple finally getting serious about original content, however late they may be. Apple definitely has the resources to cover ground lost via clueless dithering and blatant mismanagement extremely quickly.
Apple should use their cash pile to create some much needed leverage to finally get their Apple TV subscription bundle(s) up and running even if all they do is flash their cash around. — MacDailyNews, January 14, 2016
Cook should consider bidding for and winning NFL Sunday Ticket away from Direct TV, buying rights to Premiere League and La Liga games, etc. and making them Apple TV exclusives. Go directly to the sports leagues with boatlods of cash. Maybe that’ll grease the wheels. It’ll certainly move a bunch of Apple TV boxes around the world in short order. — MacDailyNews, May 6, 2014
SEE ALSO:
Rivals leaving Apple behind as Apple TV remains stuck in a test pattern – August 8, 2017
Apple’s so-called TV ‘strategy’ continues to be an embarrassing joke – June 30, 2017
Apple poaches Sony TV executives to lead major push into original content – June 16, 2017
Hulu and NBCUniversal ink expansive agreement to bring top channels to Hulu’s upcoming live TV streaming service – May 1, 2017
YouTube to unveil virtual cable bundle for $30 to $40 a month – February 28, 2017
Stalled talks with Ron Howard highlight Apple’s content confusion – February 16, 2017
Apple vowed to revolutionize television; currently prepping an unremarkable 4K Apple TV instead – February 16, 2017
Apple TV: Still not ready for prime time – February 15, 2017
Apple hires Amazon’s Fire TV head to run Apple TV business – February 8, 2017
Apple’s new TV app shows just how painfully behind Apple is – December 14, 2016
Are you ready for 4K TV? Apple TV isn’t. – November 28, 2016
Apple has no idea what they’re doing in the TV space, and it’s embarrassing – November 3, 2016
Hulu inks deals with Fox and Disney, adding ESPN, Fox News and more to forthcoming live service – November 1, 2016
Apple’s Eddy Cue: Nope, we don’t want to be Netflix – October 20, 2016
Google signs up CBS for planned web TV service to debut in early 2017; close to deal with 21st Century Fox – October 20, 2016
Apple’s Eddy Cue: Nope, we don’t want to be Netflix – October 20, 2016
Apple’s Eddy Cue alienated cable providers and networks with an assertive negotiating style – report – July 28, 2016
Here comes á la carte programming – without Apple – July 13, 2016
Apple TV 4 is a beta product and, if you bought one, you’re an unpaid beta tester – November 5, 2015
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
Carpools Karaoke and Planet of the Apps unexpectedly derivative in an amateurish way as if they were pasted together by an intern. So I hope for fairly original and much better entertainment programming from former WGN America president Matt Cherniss and Apple.
I hate Carpool Karokye, they are on all screen savers when 1 walks into any apple store. Over rated crap. Also is Lazy Eddie Cue worried about new boy Matt Cherniss? Lazy Eddy has been loafing around a lot 🙁
@MDN Take…
Seriously!?
HBO started in the 70’s… It hasn’t stopped others from producing their own original content. There’s no such thing as being late when it comes to creativity. There’s always room for more GOOD content. It doesn’t matter when you decide to start.
Anyone who isn’t deaf, dumb, and blind can clearly deduce that based off recent history… Netflix, Amazon, and many others have created great content.
I do wonder how long Cue has left. Can see within a year or two his roles gradually becoming less hands on and more honoury leading eventually to a quiet exit with the usual blurb disguising the real reasons.
Lazy Eddy Cue is on the proverbial life support now 🙂
“WGN America, the flagship entertainment network of Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) is nationally distributed in 80 million homes via cable, satellite and telco, with entertainment programming including the original, scripted series “Salem,” “Outsiders” and “Underground,” along with first-run syndicated series and blockbuster movies. Through Tribune Studios, the creative development arm of Tribune Media, original content is produced for WGN America and Tribune local stations nationwide.”
Not that sterling a source, is it?
Don’t forget Formula 1