Life is continuing apace at Hulu even as two of the company's three owners--Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) and News Corp. (Nasdaq: NWSA)--mull its future. NBCUniversal, the third owner, is prohibited from participating in executive decisions because of an agreement Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) signed when it acquired the broadcasting behemoth.
Nevertheless, Hulu is in the midst of a redesign for Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) TV.On the surface, the redesign makes it easier and faster to navigate through the service's offerings via the addition of content categories in a navigation bar across the top of the screen. The bar, in addition to containing programming categories like "Kids," "Movies" and "Latino Movies," also features a "more convenient features is the new 'Shows You Watch' section that tracks your habits, alerting you to new episodes lest you miss a second." according to a story in Gizmodo.
The new design won't be available unless subscribers update their Apple firmware.
Another big change at the company could be the least permanent. Andy Forssell, current senior vice president of content, has been named acting CEO, set to replace departing CEO Jason Kilar when he leaves at the end of March.
"Andy exemplifies the Hulu culture and has been central to Hulu's journey, helping to grow this company from 2 content partners and no revenue to over 450 content partners and approximately $700 million revenue in 2012," Kilar wrote in a blog.
There is a degree of impermanence to the move because, Kilar added, Disney and News Corp. "are currently finalizing their forward-looking plans with Hulu... Once the plans are finalized, a permanent decision will be made regarding the CEO position."
For more:
- Jason Kilar wrote this blog
- Gizmodo carried this story
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