Hernan Lopez, the former executive of 21st Century Fox who made waves in the podcasting world with Wondery, has shifted gears to launch a new consulting firm aimed at assisting media and entertainment businesses in navigating the complexities of the streaming era. Dubbed Owl & Co., the consultancy is set to deliver data-driven analysis to aid companies in maximizing their value proposition amidst the evolving landscape of content consumption.
Lopez’s venture into consulting comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, marked by a surge in streaming platforms and a heightened focus on optimizing content investment strategies. With an initial focus on dissecting the streaming content marketplace, Owl & Co. plans to leverage available viewership and spending data to provide clients with valuable insights into return on investment (ROI) metrics for TV series and movies. As Hollywood executives increasingly scrutinize production expenditures in today’s saturated content market, Lopez aims to provide clarity and strategic guidance to industry leaders.
Among the first clients to enlist Owl & Co.’s services is North Road Co., a prominent film and TV production and distribution company founded by industry titan Peter Chernin. With Lopez’s expertise and analytical approach, North Road Co. seeks to enhance its understanding of market dynamics and optimize its content slate for maximum economic value.
Reflecting on the industry’s evolution, Lopez highlights a pivotal moment in December when Netflix disclosed viewership data for thousands of titles, signaling a shift towards greater transparency in audience metrics. Armed with this data-driven approach, Owl & Co. aims to empower clients with actionable insights to drive strategic decision-making and adapt to the changing media landscape.
For Lopez, the launch of Owl & Co. marks a new chapter following a tumultuous legal battle that ensued after his indictment in 2020 on bribery and conspiracy charges related to TV rights deals during his tenure at Fox International Channels. Despite facing adversity, Lopez remains steadfast in his commitment to advancing the industry and leveraging his extensive experience to drive positive change.
With a rich background spanning nearly two decades in senior TV executive roles at Fox, Lopez brings a wealth of knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to Owl & Co. His tenure at Fox, characterized by a focus on international expansion and innovative ventures such as MundoFox, laid the foundation for his foray into podcasting with the launch of Wondery in 2016. Under his leadership, Wondery quickly rose to prominence in the podcast network space before being acquired by Amazon in 2020.
As Lopez embarks on this new endeavor, he is poised to leverage his deep understanding of data analysis and business strategy to empower clients in navigating the complexities of the modern media landscape. With Owl & Co., Lopez seeks to provide industry players with the tools and insights needed to thrive in an era defined by rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences.
