Richard Plepler

BAMTEC, which was just called BAM at the time, was known for streaming Major League Baseball. It knew how to handle big event television. It came with stellar recommendations. It was perfect. So Plepler hired the company to build what became HBO Now.

And then the day arrived, the season five premiere of Game of Thrones.

And then the day arrived, the season five premiere of Game of Thrones.

And then the day arrived, the season five premiere of Game of Thrones.

HBO was not the first TV company to build a streaming platform, but it was the first that mattered. And it was the first major media company, a company that had planted its flag on the back of cable, to say we're taking our content directly to the consumer. No more cable subscriptions and bundles and extra costs. You want to watch reruns of Sex and the City, the newest Game of Thrones?

HBO was not the first TV company to build a streaming platform, but it was the first that mattered. And it was the first major media company, a company that had planted its flag on the back of cable, to say we're taking our content directly to the consumer. No more cable subscriptions and bundles and extra costs. You want to watch reruns of Sex and the City, the newest Game of Thrones?

HBO was not the first TV company to build a streaming platform, but it was the first that mattered. And it was the first major media company, a company that had planted its flag on the back of cable, to say we're taking our content directly to the consumer. No more cable subscriptions and bundles and extra costs. You want to watch reruns of Sex and the City, the newest Game of Thrones?

Give us $14.95 a month and you got it. This was such a big deal that it really did feel like a moon landing. And not just to Plepler. HBO Now got the entire industry's attention. Because if HBO was feeling the squeeze from changing viewing habits, so was everyone else.

Give us $14.95 a month and you got it. This was such a big deal that it really did feel like a moon landing. And not just to Plepler. HBO Now got the entire industry's attention. Because if HBO was feeling the squeeze from changing viewing habits, so was everyone else.

Give us $14.95 a month and you got it. This was such a big deal that it really did feel like a moon landing. And not just to Plepler. HBO Now got the entire industry's attention. Because if HBO was feeling the squeeze from changing viewing habits, so was everyone else.

Disney's Bob Iger was too.

Disney's Bob Iger was too.

Disney's Bob Iger was too.

Bob Iger told Klepler that he was considering making an investment too, a big one, an investment in Disney's future. Iger and Disney wouldn't just go out and hire BamTech like HBO did. They'd eventually buy the whole company. Because Disney was not just going to create a streaming option. Streaming was about to redefine its whole business.

Bob Iger told Klepler that he was considering making an investment too, a big one, an investment in Disney's future. Iger and Disney wouldn't just go out and hire BamTech like HBO did. They'd eventually buy the whole company. Because Disney was not just going to create a streaming option. Streaming was about to redefine its whole business.

Bob Iger told Klepler that he was considering making an investment too, a big one, an investment in Disney's future. Iger and Disney wouldn't just go out and hire BamTech like HBO did. They'd eventually buy the whole company. Because Disney was not just going to create a streaming option. Streaming was about to redefine its whole business.

This is Land of the Giants, and I'm your host, Joe Adalia. On our final Disney episode, how does a 100-year-old media entertainment company compete with tech giants on their own turf? Who tries to become one of them, to beat them at their own game?

This is Land of the Giants, and I'm your host, Joe Adalia. On our final Disney episode, how does a 100-year-old media entertainment company compete with tech giants on their own turf? Who tries to become one of them, to beat them at their own game?

This is Land of the Giants, and I'm your host, Joe Adalia. On our final Disney episode, how does a 100-year-old media entertainment company compete with tech giants on their own turf? Who tries to become one of them, to beat them at their own game?

He spent the bulk of his career at the Walt Disney Company, first in the publishing division in the early 90s, and eventually as president of ESPN. Over the course of his own career's ascent, he saw Disney's cable business grow to unprecedented heights of profitability. But in 2012, when Skipper became president and ESPN's performance was so wildly spectacular, something else happened.