Kids channel outfit Hop! names new CEO

Michal Butel has been named as CEO of Israeli kids channel provider Hop! Media Group and will replace Alona Abt and Tamir Paul, the group’s co-founders, who have headed the company for the past two decades.

Michal Butel

Butel joined Hop! Media Group in 2013 as head of content and served as deputy CEO over the past six years.

She previously served as content manager at Keshet and head of branded channels and local productions at Yes D.B.S.

The appointments follows the group’s launch of a new channel – PELE. Targeted for ages 2-5, the all-animation channel focuses on social-emotional learning and is the group’s fifth channel.

Hop! Media Group, founded by Abt and Paul, claims to have launched Hop! Channel as the first preschool channel in the world, in 2000. The group also owns and operates the toddler channel Luli, Israeli Childhood, Wiz and new channel PELE, which launched in April.

The group claims the largest market share in Israel among viewers up to the age of seven and has a wide digital and off-screen presence allowing it to provide a 360° approach to its shows and brands.

Butel said: “Kids content has been a passion of mine for many years. I’m thankful and appreciative of Alona and Tamir for entrusting me with their life’s work. I am confident that the group will continue to raise generations of kids in a safe nurturing environment as we’ll continue to create and curate quality content that caters to our unique audience.”

Abt said: “We are confident that Michal’s vast experience will allow her, together with the team at Hop!, to maintain the groups long-standing partnerships as well as expand into new creative ventures and reach new heights.”