HitFix
Jen Sargent and Gregory Ellwood launched HitFix in December 2008 to fill a specific gap in the media landscape. They wanted to create an entertainment news site that sat between dry trade publications and celebrity gossip sites like TMZ. Their target audience was slightly skewed towards males, which was unique for an industry often driven by female readership. The founders aimed to cater specifically to 18- to 34-year-olds who wanted insider information alongside their reviews. This approach distinguished them from other outlets that focused solely on scandal or technical industry reports.
Golden Seeds provided the first funding injection for HitFix in 2009 as one of the largest angel investment groups in the United States. Tech Coast Angels followed with an initial commitment of $850,000 in February 2009. By June 2010, these investors added another $1,600,000 to support the company's expansion. This capital allowed the website to cross the 1,000,000 unique users per month milestone in mid-2010. Additional backing came from HBS Angels, Liquid Capital, and Gordon Crawford to sustain operations.
Drew McWeeny joined HitFix in 2008 after announcing his move via a review of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He previously wrote under the name Moriarty for Ain't It Cool News before covering the movie industry for the new site. Alan Sepinwall moved to HitFix full-time in April 2010 after spending 14 years at The Star-Ledger. NBC executives credited Sepinwall by name for helping secure a renewal for the show Chuck. Slate later noted that he changed the nature of television criticism during his tenure there. On the 20th of September 2016, McWeeny announced on Twitter that he would no longer be working for the platform.
Major media outlets frequently cited HitFix as a source for entertainment news and analysis. Time magazine referenced the site alongside other digital publications when reporting on film and culture. The Los Angeles Times used HitFix data and commentary in their own coverage of entertainment topics. HuffPost, E! Online, and The Daily Herald also pulled information directly from the website's archives. These citations established HitFix as a credible voice within the broader journalism community despite its independent status.
In April 2016, HitFix became a brand owned by Woven Digital, which was building a portfolio of lifestyle sites. By November 2016, the standalone website switched to redirect all traffic to Uproxx, another property under the same parent company. The original domain eventually ceased operations entirely after the transition period concluded. The shutdown occurred in 2021, marking the end of over a decade of online activity. This closure followed years of integration into larger corporate structures rather than maintaining an independent identity.
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Common questions
Who founded HitFix and when was it launched?
Jen Sargent and Gregory Ellwood launched HitFix in December 2008 to fill a specific gap in the media landscape. They created an entertainment news site that sat between dry trade publications and celebrity gossip sites like TMZ.
How much funding did Golden Seeds provide to HitFix in 2009?
Golden Seeds provided the first funding injection for HitFix in 2009 as one of the largest angel investment groups in the United States. Tech Coast Angels followed with an initial commitment of $850,000 in February 2009.
When did Drew McWeeny announce he would stop working for HitFix?
On the 20th of September 2016, McWeeny announced on Twitter that he would no longer be working for the platform. He had joined HitFix in 2008 after announcing his move via a review of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
What happened to the HitFix domain in November 2016?
By November 2016, the standalone website switched to redirect all traffic to Uproxx, another property under the same parent company. The original domain eventually ceased operations entirely after the transition period concluded.
In what year did HitFix officially shut down its operations?
The shutdown occurred in 2021, marking the end of over a decade of online activity. This closure followed years of integration into larger corporate structures rather than maintaining an independent identity.