NBCUniversal Puts Three Execs on Hulu Board

NBCUniversal has added three members to the board of directors of online streaming service Hulu, according to media reports. The Hollywood Reporter first reported that Universal Filmed Entertainment chairman Jeff Shell, advertising and client partnerships chairwoman Linda Yaccarino and content distribution chairman Matt Bond have joined the board of the joint venture formed in 2008. NBCUniversal owns a 30 percent stake in the streaming service. The media company with major operations in Universal City also has a licensing deal with Hulu, which includes on-demand episodes of classic shows such as “30 Rock” and “Parenthood,” shared rights to current shows including “This Is Us” and the live feed from several NBC networks, the Reporter said. The media company has been a passive owner in Hulu since 2011, when it was acquired by Comcast Corp. in Philadelphia. It was required by the Justice Department to give up its board seats as a stipulation of that deal, but that provision expired at the end of August. Walt Disney Co. in Burbank will become a 60 percent owner in Hulu once its deal to acquire the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox is finalized. The remaining 10 percent is owned by WarnerMedia.