Lucy Hood, President of the Television Academy, dies at 56

The TV community is experiencing a real tragedy today.

Lucy Hood, the president and chief operating officer of the Television Academy, has died after a prolonged battle with cancer. Hood, who assumed the position of Television Academy president from Alan Perris last June, was just 56-years-old.

“It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the passing of our dynamic and passionate president and chief operating officer, Lucy Hood, after a courageous battle with cancer,” said TV Academy chairman-CEO Bruce Rosenblum. “Lucy was an innovator and thought leader, always focused on how to best serve an industry she loved. In the all-too-short time Lucy led the Television Academy, her extraordinary impact and contributions were deeply felt throughout the organization. Lucy will be greatly missed. Our hearts and prayers go out to her husband, Rob, and her two children, Rachel and Benjamin.”

Further details via Variety:

Credit: Variety

News of her death came as a surprise Wednesday afternoon to many people in the industry and even at the TV Academy who were not aware of her illness. In her short time at the helm, Hood pushed the org known for being tradition-bound to embracing the changing multi-platform landscape.

“We have to evolve as viewers evolve,” Hood told Variety last September. “I believe we’re in a new golden age of television.”

Hood came to the TV Academy after serving as exec director of USC’s Institute for Communication Technology Management. Previously, she served as Fox Mobile Entertainment prexy and as a senior VP for News Corp. focusing on digital media.

During her years at Fox and News Corp., Hood championed a number of cutting-edge digital efforts including “mobisodes” for the series “24.” She’s credited with helping to popularize text messaging in the U.S. by integrating the then-nascent technology into Fox’s “American Idol” in 2001.

Hood was respected within News Corp. for being ahead of the curve on the potential for digital and mobile services as an entertainment vehicle. She went to 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV to pitch the concept of the “24: Conspiracy” mobisodes that were crafted as an original production independent of the lensing of the drama series for Fox.

In short, Hood was a pioneer in moving television into the digital age when many executives were resistant to change. I don't think it can be overstated how integral she was to the notion of TV becoming something more than just entertainment you receive through your cable box or satellite dish. This is a real loss to the television industry.

Hood is survived by her husband and two children, as well as her mother and father. Just a real tragedy all around.