Hulu strides towards global launch
May 12, 2009
Hulu, the US online JV owned by NBC Universal, Fox and Walt Disney, has signed its first batch of content deals with international television producers, the first step towards a full global launch of the service.
Currently still only available in the US, the group has now confirmed it is in talks to launch the site in eight of the leading broadcast markets.
“We’re having discussions in the top six to eight markets . . . we’re laying the groundwork,” said Andy Forssell, senior vice-president of content acquisition and distribution.
The new content deals will bring a raft of UK programming to the site following agreements struck between Hulu and Endemol, the producer of Big Brother, the reality show, and Digital Rights Group.
The site has also struck deals with Saavn, one of the largest distributors of Bollywood movies.
In most cases, the launch of the programmes on Hulu will be the first time they have been seen by a US audience, with the advertising on the site generating a new revenue stream for the producers.