The broadcaster makes a number of big moves ahead of the big DTC launch it says is happening “later this quarter.”
Further incorporating Hulu, the premium on-demand and live TV streaming service, into Walt Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer & International division has resulted in the departure of Randy Freer, Hulu’s CEO.
Hulu CEO Randy Freer signaled that the company could be interested in expanding internationally as it awaits the outcome of the Disney-Fox merger.
Hopkins is leaving the streaming platform and moving to Sony Pictures Television, where he will fill the chairman role vacated by Steve Mosko. Randy Freer, who currently serves on the Hulu board, and has been president-COO of the Fox Networks Group since 2013, will take over as CEO at Hulu.
Linear television has become disadvantaged as a viewing experience by its reliance on traditional commercial breaks, Fox Networks Group President-COO Randy Freer said Thursday in a candid Q&A held as part of Variety‘s Big Data Summit.
Exclusives
The former co-president and COO, Fox Sports Media Group now has “a broad strategic and operational role across FNG,” which comprises Fox Broadcasting Co., Fox Sports, FX Networks, Fox International Channels and National Geographic Channels.
Randy Freer, Fox Sports Media Group, co-president-COO, discussed the final sprint toward the launch of FS1 on Aug. 17 and also answered a key question during the B&C Sports Business & Technology Summit: Why? “I get asked that a lot but there is a simple and logical answer,” he said. “If you look back a few years and at the rights landscape, all of the rights agreements were going to be redone. So we could look and see that we could acquire enough rights to go out and add something that adds value and is an asset for Fox going forward.”
Yesterday’s resignation of Fox Networks Group CEO Tony Vinciquerra will result in promotions for David Haslingden, David Hill, Randy Freer and Eric Shanks.
