Ray Hopkins is President of Paramount U.S. Distribution, overseeing the company’s domestic content distribution strategy, partnerships, and agreements with leading video providers and digital platforms across Paramount’s iconic portfolio of popular broadcast, cable, and streaming brands, including CBS, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, and Pluto TV. Hopkins is also responsible for all distribution for the CBS Television Network to more than 40 affiliated television station groups throughout the country.
Previously, Hopkins served as President of Television Networks Distribution for CBS since June 2013, responsible for securing new retransmission and affiliation agreements for CBS’ broadcast stations and cable networks, including the CBS Television Network, Showtime Networks, CBS Sports Network and Smithsonian Network.
An industry veteran, Hopkins has more than 35 years of experience, including over eight years (2005-2013) as Chief Operating Officer of YES Network (Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network), where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company’s affiliate sales, legal, finance, business development, new media, marketing, human resources and communications departments.
Prior to joining the YES Network, Hopkins was EVP of Affiliate Sales and Marketing for Gemstar-TV Guide from 2002 to 2004. He came to Gemstar-TV Guide from FOX Cable Networks, where he had been SVP of Affiliate Sales and Marketing. While at FOX Cable Networks from 1999 to 2002, Hopkins managed subscriber growth and affiliate revenue for FOX Cable. He also oversaw retransmission consent deals for all FOX owned-and-operated stations. Hopkins began his career at CNBC when the cable financial news channel launched in 1989.
Hopkins holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College and is also a graduate of the Executive Education Program at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Hopkins serves on the board of the media industry’s T. Howard Foundation and has been inducted into the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame for his distinguished career.