Jon Stewart has signed a four-year exclusive production deal with HBO, the first products of which will be short-form digital content for platforms including HBO Now and HBO Go. HBO also gets a first-look option for other film and TV projects from Stewart in his post-Daily Show career. His first endeavor will see him putting a twist on current events. He is working with a cloud graphics company, OTOY Inc., to develop "new technology that will allow him to produce timely short-form digital content, which will be refreshed on HBO NOW multiple times throughout the day," HBO said in a release.
“Jon Stewart led a revolution that changed the face of TV comedy on the Daily Show,” HBO Programming president Phil Lombardo said in a release. “He graced our network nearly 20 years ago, so we’re thrilled to welcome back his immense talents in this next chapter of his career.”
Added Stewart in the release: “I’m so excited to be working with Richard [Plepler], Michael and the entire HBO family. Appearing on television 22 minutes a night clearly broke me. I’m pretty sure I can produce a few minutes of content every now and again.”
Stewart’s previous HBO credits include the standup special Jon Stewart: Unleavened, hosting the special George Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy, Mr. Show with Bob and David and a recurring role on The Larry Sanders Show, HBO noted. He was host of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart on Comedy Central for 16 years.
