Jon Stewart Returns With Four Year Deal at HBO

To all those who desperately miss Jon Stewart since his retirement from The Daily Show, here's some great news. Deadline reports that Stewart has signed a four year deal with HBO that will see him develop new short-form digital content for HBO Go, HBO Now, and "other platforms" with a "first-look option for other film and TV ventures."

In his first project for HBO under the new deal, Stewart will work with the cloud graphics company OTOY Inc., in developing new technology that will allow him to produce timely, current-events-focused short-form digital content, which will be refreshed on HBO NOW multiple times throughout the day. Additional projects will be announced later. 

I'm an HBO subscriber, but I don't think I've ever used HBO NOW — I wonder how many other subscribers say the same thing. But if Stewart is producing content that's refreshed multiple times daily, that site could easily become a real destination for millions of people. Stewart's pull is strong, and his influence on and relationship with an entire generation could be exactly what HBO needs to bump up their digital presence, let alone whatever cool movies or TV shows come from this deal down the line.

“Jon Stewart led a revolution that changed the face of TV comedy on the ‘Daily Show,’” said Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “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.”

“I’m so excited to be working with Richard [Plepler], Michael and the entire HBO family,” says Stewart. “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.”