Randy Freer

Randy Freer (born 1959/1960) is an American television executive, and the former chief executive officer (CEO) of Hulu.

Early life Freer attended Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Standish, Maine and graduated with degrees in business and history in 1982. In recent years, he oversaw the negotiations that led to new long-term agreements with the National Football League, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, and the USGA, as well as with the Pac-12, Big 12, and Big East Conferences. Freer also played a significant role in Fox's acquisitions of the World Cup and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Freer's efforts to bolster FOX Sports’ complement of media rights helped lay the foundation for FOX Sports 1, the company's new national sports television network, which launched in August 2013. In this role, Freer directly oversaw revenue, distribution, and operations for Fox Networks Group, including FOX Broadcasting Company, FOX Sports, FX Networks, Fox International Channels, and National Geographic Channels. He was also responsible for rights acquisitions, and team and league relationships on behalf of FOX Sports. Freer reported to Peter Rice, chairman and CEO, Fox Networks Group.

Freer was the CEO of Hulu from October 2017 to January 2020 and reported to Kevin Mayer, chairman of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International. Freer stepped down from his position as CEO after corporate restructuring intended to further integrate Hulu into Disney's direct-to-consumer & international division. Hulu's executives will now report directly to Mayer.

Recognition Both Business Week and Sports Business Journal have named Freer one of the most influential people in the business of sports on multiple occasions. CableFax Magazine has also named Freer the number-one most powerful executive in local sports television for three consecutive years (2008–2010).

In December 2013, Sports Business Daily named Freer and Eric Shanks the number one most influential people in sports business. "Under the direction of Freer and Shanks, Fox Sports dictated, shaped and in some cases inflated the sports media marketplace in recent years, gobbling up rights in a buildup to the August launches of Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2."