Apple Hires Amazon Video Executive to Lead Apple TV+ Sports Division

Thursday June 4, 2020 1:56 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple has reportedly hired Amazon Video sports content executive James DeLorenzo to work on its Apple TV+ on-demand video service.

appletvplus
DeLorenzo has led Amazon Video's sports division since 2016 and has also been senior vice president of the company's Audible subscription audiobook service, according to his LinkedIn profile. DeLorenzo will head the sports division for ‌Apple TV‌+, according to Recode. Apple has yet to comment on the hire.

Rumors suggest Apple is seeking to expand its TV+ service with live sports content, which would help diversify its currently limited originals offering.

Apple is also said to be looking to bolster its library by exploring deals for MGM Holdings content and college sports right, as well as purchasing existing back catalog TV series.

Tweetscoop: Apple has hired Amazon exec Jim DeLorenzo to head up sports for its Apple TV unit. DeLorenzo went to Amazon in 2016 to run sports there, tho his current LinkedIn says he’s svp at Amazon’s Audible. — Peter Kafka (@pkafka) June 4, 2020

Apple charges $4.99 per month for ‌‌Apple TV‌‌+, and while many subscribers have a free year after purchasing an Apple device, Apple will need to make ‌‌Apple TV‌‌+ worth the subscription fee in the future by offering users more choice.

Tags: Apple TV Plus Guide, Apple TV Shows

Popular Stories

Apple TV Reportedly Planning 'Silo' Spinoff

Wednesday November 4, 2026 8:56 am PST by Hartley Charlton

Apple TV is developing a "Silo" spinoff tied to Hugh Howey's upcoming Silo book trilogy, according to Apple TV commentator and podcaster Sigmund Judge. He said pre-production will begin later this year, with the books expected next summer. Hiring has apparently begun and some sets remain standing after season four wrapped in March. The reported project would follow the show's fourth and final...

• 46 comments

'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today

Friday October 30, 2026 11:41 pm PDT by Hartley Charlton

Filming for the second season of Apple TV's "Pluribus" is expected to start today in Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to a report from Production List. The acclaimed sci-fi drama stars Rhea Seehorn and was created by Vince Gilligan. Its first season debuted on November 7, 2025, with a second season already commissioned. Apple has yet to announce when season two will...

• 88 comments

F1 on Apple TV Now Available in Dolby Atmos

Thursday October 22, 2026 6:35 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple today announced that F1 races on the Apple TV streaming service will now be broadcast with Dolby Atmos spatial sound, starting with the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas on October 23 to October 25. Apple's press release outlines everything F1 fans need to know about the U.S. Grand Prix and ways to follow along. Apple TV has been the exclusive home of F1 in the U.S. since March, as...

• 28 comments

Top Rated Comments

unchecked

84 months ago

If they can offer better pricing/business models than Sky and NowTV, this could be a game... changer?

Nah. There's too much rights negotiations and management in the world of sports. It'll end up just like another form of cable and only for the US market.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

satchmo

84 months ago

I really don’t care about love sports, I’d rather have more original content and a back catalogue. As it is now, Apple TV+ is extremely low value compared with Netflix or amazon prime. It needs to have at least 5-10 times more tv series and films to be competitive at the current price.

Give it time. Content doesn’t happen overnight and production has come to a halt because of the pandemic.

Apple TV+ isn’t even officially one year old. Netflix and others didn’t as much original content as Apple at the outset.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Baggy Spandex

84 months ago

I really don’t care about love sports, I’d rather have more original content and a back catalogue. As it is now, Apple TV+ is extremely low value compared with Netflix or amazon prime. It needs to have at least 5-10 times more tv series and films to be competitive at the current price.

Live sports is the only thing that is tying a massive amount of people to cable. Especially live local sports.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Bryan Bowler

84 months ago

If Apple can get the NFL on board, I will be an instant and permanent AppleTV+ subscriber.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Michael Scrip

84 months ago

Please try to get the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket once the DirecTV contract is up... that would make me a lifetime subscriber.

Why does the NFL need to partner with DirecTV or someone like Apple?

Why can't I just give the NFL money for the service?

I'd love to log into NFL.com, give them my credit card, and watch any game possible. Why do they need a middleman?

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

bigchrisfgb

84 months ago

Easy for them.

mall they have to do is buy the rights to show football (Soccer to you Americans). Buy the world wide rights to the Premier League and the rights to the leagues in other nations and they have won.

Sorry to say it yanks, but our football is the most popular sports in the world. The rest of the world goes crazy for it. If they got the rights to show the main leagues then they will easily win, hands down.

Did Amazon made any progress in Sports TV?

Sports packages subsidise normal TV programmes. It’s fair to say that Netflix and maybe now Disney+ are outliers in this.
Amazon Prime TV is subsidised through Amazon and Prime accounts. Very few people have a Prime account for the TV content.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

Apple Hires Amazon Video Executive to Lead Apple TV+ Sports Division

Popular Stories

Apple TV Reportedly Planning 'Silo' Spinoff

'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today

F1 on Apple TV Now Available in Dolby Atmos

Top Rated Comments

Next Article

Videos

Guides

Upcoming

Other Stories