Jon Stewart’s next act will be on HBO.
The former host of “The Daily Show” has struck a four-year production deal with the company just in time for the 2016 election cycle.
“The partnership marks the next phase of Stewart’s groundbreaking career, beginning with short-form digital content, which will be showcased on HBO NOW, HBO GO and other platforms,” HBO said in statement on Tuesday.
Stewart’s first project will consist of “timely short-form digital content” that can be updated several times a day.
A network spokeswoman said Stewart’s contributions will come online sometime early next year, but said she couldn’t be more specific.
The deal also includes what’s known as a “first-look option,” meaning that HBO has the first crack at films and TV ventures that Stewart develops.
But it sounds like his focus, at least for now, is on web video.
“Appearing on television 22 minutes a night clearly broke me,” he said in a statement. “I’m pretty sure I can produce a few minutes of content every now and again.”
HBO said Stewart was not available for further comment on Tuesday.
In August when Stewart left Comedy Central, HBO CEO Richard Plepler telegraphed his interest in striking a deal with Stewart.
“We would love to find a way to work with somebody as brilliant and gifted as Jon. Love to,” he said.
HBO and CNN are both divisions of Time Warner.
Stewart won’t be the only fake newsman on the network or even the only “Daily Show” alum.
Former correspondent John Oliver is currently the host of HBO’s critically-acclaimed weekly news show “Last Week Tonight.”
