Hulu has named Mike Hopkins, a former executive at Fox, as the online streaming service’s new chief executive officer.
Hulu made it official today, announcing that Hopkins will take over immediately. He had previously been President of Distribution for Fox Networks Group, a post he had held since 2008. He has also been a Hulu Board Director since 2011.
According to TechCrunch, Hopkins’ name had come up in previous reports as a possible permanent replacement for acting CEO Andy Forssell, who is now leaving Hulu. Forssell had replaced Jason Kilar, who left in March.
“After an extensive search, Mike was simply the best candidate for the job. He has a strong understanding of programming, digital distribution and consumer behavior, and a great vision for Hulu’s next chapter,” Anne Sweeney, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, said in a statement.
Hulu has had a tough year, as it tries to compete with Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. The company, owned by Fox, Disney and NBCUniversal had tried to sell it, but no company offered what they hoped to get. So, instead, they called off the sale and agreed to invest $750 million in the venture.
Hopkins sent an email to employees, which was also posted on the company blog. “With the foundation you have built, the significant capital infusion of three quarters of a billion dollars, and our partners aligned and fully supportive of what we need to get it done, the sky is the limit for Hulu. I am looking forward to working with you all,” he wrote. “I can’t wait to get started and meet you all in person.”
Some Hulu content is available for free, but in order to get full access, you have to sign up for Hulu Plus, which costs $7.99 a month.