THE former head of HBO, Richard Plepler, has signed an exclusive production deal with Apple to make TV shows and movies for the iPhone maker’s new streaming service, Apple TV Plus.

Plepler is well known in the entertainment industry and cultivated HBO’s reputation for “prestige” TV. He left the company after AT&T bought its owner, Time Warner.

Apple TV Plus launched last fall is aiming for quality, stocking its TV shows and movies with Hollywood stars and power players. (SD-Agencies)