Hulu has hired Fox Networks Group President & COO RANDY FREER as its CEO to replace MIKE HOPKINS, who is "moving to Sony Pictures Entertainment" where he will chair its television department, according to James & Faughnder of the L.A. TIMES. Hulu’s board had "begun negotiations for a new contract with Hopkins, whose deal expires this month." But a little more than a month ago, he "got a call" from Sony Pictures Chair & CEO TONY VINCIQUERRA. Hopkins, who "worked for Vinciquerra for a decade when both were executives at Fox, elected to move over to Sony rather than extend his deal at Hulu." Freer has worked for two decades at Fox, serving as COO of Fox Networks Group in L.A. for the "last four years." That portfolio includes the "Fox broadcast network, FX, National Geographic and Fox’s regional sports channels." Before that, Freer was co-President of Fox Sports for two years. Freer has "served on Hulu’s board for the last four years." His "deep knowledge of sports contracts could be an advantage for Hulu as it bulks up with live sports with its new TV service." Sports continue to be "crucial for drawing audiences to live TV as consumers increasingly binge-watch other content on-demand" (L.A. TIMES, 10/25). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Joe Flint notes the choice of Freer "signals how high a strategic priority Fox continues to place on Hulu," which competes with Netflix and Amazon Prime for subscribers (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/25). CABLEFAX DAILY notes Freer was "responsible for negotiating rights deals with top sports properties, including the FIFA World Cup, NFL, MLB and NASCAR, as well as several college sports conferences" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 10/25). Variety's Andrew Wallenstein tweeted, "Bottom line to watch: Does the appointment of Randy Freer signal any kind of strategic shift for Hulu? Maybe not at all" (TWITTER.com, 10/24).
