Hulu CEO Confirms Plans to Launch Internet TV Service in 2017

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Via: MacNN.com

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Hulu is planning to launch its own Internet TV service next year, one that will provide live streams of channels to customers alongside its existing on-demand video streaming service. CEO Mike Hopkins confirmed reports from earlier this week that the company was leaning towards making such a service, that it will stream “live programming from broadcast and cable brands,” including “live sports, news, and events.”

Few other details about the service were offered by Hopkins, reports The Verge, except that it will offer a “deeply personalized experience.” Hopkins did refer to the original report on the topic, which may suggest many details from it are in fact true, such as the early 2017 launch date, and the potential channel selection.

According to the original report, Hulu co-owners Disney and 21st Century Fox were both close to making licensing agreements to allow their channels to run on the service, though apparently fellow co-owner NBC Universal is not undergoing the same process, potentially preventing its channels from being made available to subscribers. Current estimates for the service’s subscript puts it at around $40 per month, comparable to other existing Internet TV options.

Aside from the Internet TV rumor confirmation, Hulu’s presentation in New York today also includes a number of other announcements. Its subscriber base has grown from 9 million last year to 12 million, though apparently this is a reduced growth rate compared to the difference between 2014 and 2015. By comparison, main competition Netflix has over 77 million subscribers around the world. Hulu is also going to increase its original content strategy for the next year, with Hulu Documentary Films providing exclusive movies for viewers, including The Beatles: Eight Days a Week.