A veteran TV documentary producer described as "one of the most prolific and honored filmmakers in television" is moving to HBO, The New York Times reports.

Susan Lacy, the creator and executive producer of the long-running PBS series "American Masters," is making the move, Bill Carter reports in The Times.

“It was not an easy decision to make,” Lacy told the paper. “But this was a wonderful opportunity for me to continue to make films.”

Lacy, who created "American Masters" in 1986, has a multiyear deal with HBO to produce and direct documentary films for the pay-TV network. She will create a biographical series for its documentary unit, which is headed by Sheila Nevins.

One aspect of working for PBS won’t be missed, she told The Times: Financing was often inadequate, and she herself often had to "find money to supplement the funding for each film,” she said.

HBO’s deep pockets were "a big draw in taking this job," Lacy said.

Susan Lacy