Image source: http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple49/v4/24/03/11/2403115d-c55a-38db-5049-866d856b50de/screen1136x1136.jpeg
" with a few big holes in the lineup.
The company has deals with several big programming groups for the $40-per-month Hulu With Live TV bundle, including
parent companies 21st Century Fox, Disney, NBC Universal " which was officially announced just this week " and Time
Warner (for Turners networks). It has also pasted with CBS, A+E Networks and Scrips Networks Interactive to
distribute their live channels.
Missing from the lineup are HBO, AMC Networks, Viacom, Starz, and Discovery Communications channels. In the case
of Viacom, Hulu has said it has no plans to add Comedy Central, Nick, MTV or other nets anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Hulu wont offer local TV from all four major broadcasters in every market (though it says its working
on signing deals with more affiliates). Local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC broadcast nets are available in L.A., New York,
San Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago; in other areas, customers may have access to only two or three local
stations, according to Hulu.
Hulu can now be a viewers primary source of television, said Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins. Its a natural extension of
our business, and an exciting new chapter for Hulu.
Also at its upfront, Hulu also announced the renewal of The Handmaids Tale for season 2 plus orders for Marvels
Runways teen superhero series and Mars-mission drama The First, from House of Cards creator Beau Willimson.
In addition, Hulu will become the exclusive subscription streaming home to NBCs hit prime time drama This Is Us,
senior VP and head of content Craig Erwich announced. It also landed exclusive SVOD rights to FXs breakout
freshman comedy series Atlanta, starring Donald Glover.
Missing from Hulus live TV menu: HBO, AMC Networks, Viacoms Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV and other nets,
Starz, and Discovery Communications channels. The company said additional premium network add-ons will become
available soon.
Another catch: While local TV stations will be available in the service across the U.S., Hulu wont offer all four
major networks everywhere. Local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC broadcast nets are available in L.A., New York, San
Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago. In other markets, Hulu With Live TV will have holes in the lineup; the
company says its working to cut deals with station groups and will add more local channels over time.
By calling it a beta, Hulu is able to set a lower bar for customer expectations for the live TV offering " in
the event that the service suffers some early hiccups. Its currently available on Xbox One, Apple TV, Chrome cast,
iOS and Android devices, with more device support to come.
The Hulu With Live TV service includes content from the four major broadcast networks " ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC
(again, local stations will vary) " and cable networks including ESPN, CNN, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, Fox
Sports, MSNBC, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, TNT, Bravo, E!, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, A&E, Cartoon
Network/Adult Swim, Disney Channel, Free form, FX, History, Lifetime, National Geographic, TBS, USA Network,
and Vice land. It also carries regional sports networks from Comcast and Fox in several markets. (See the full
channel lineup here.)
