Apple recently appointed Amazon Video Sports Content Chief James DeLorenzo to a similar role, in which he will oversee the company’s on-demand video service, Apple TV+. DeLorenzo will work with the service's team to lead sports-related projects, bringing his knowledge from his previous experiences to the table
Recode's Peter Kafka said DeLorenzo will “head up sports” for Apple TV, performing duties similar to the ones he carried out during his time at Amazon. The move correlates with previous reports about Apple investing in live sports for its Apple TV+ streaming service. A tweet from him read: “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," Kafka tweeted.
DeLorenzo is the former Senior Vice President of Audible, Inc., an Amazon company focused on audiobooks and storytelling. He also holds a background in legal affairs from his time at Sports Illustrated, working on its digital video initiative and assisting in the launch, Time's 120 Sports video partnership, Recode reported in 2016. At launch, 120 Sports included partnerships with the league giants, such as NHL, NBA, MLB.com, NASCAR, and multiple other collegiate conferences. Four years before his stint at Amazon, DeLorenzo launched and operated Hollywood studio Relativity Media's sports division.
Another report from Sports Business Daily mentions that Apple is interested in negotiating with the Pac-12 Conference for media rights deals starting in 2024. Sporting events, which many streaming services lack due to cable rights, would be live-streamed to Apple TV+ subscribers
Apple TV+ currently offers a library filled with original movies and TV shows, either purchased or produced by Apple. The company uses live sports partnerships as a way of differentiating the service from the competition, as its streaming platform still has a limited catalog compared to its video service rivals. Despite the news leak about his appointment, Apple has yet to confirm DeLorenzo’s hiring or on any sports-related projects for Apple TV+.
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