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Hulu going international soon

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 07 May 2009 9:01 User comments (8)

Hulu going international soon

Hulu, the currently US-only online video service jointly run by Fox, NBCU and Disney, has begun signing content deals with international television producers, perhaps hinting at a global launch in the near future.
In under 18 months, Hulu has moved to become the third place video site online, behind YouTube and Fox Interactive, seeing 380 million clips viewed last month.

The main complaint with the service is the fact that it does not exist outside the US, but it appears Hulu is ready to expand the service to eight "leading broadcast markets."

“We’re having discussions in the top six to eight markets…we’re laying the groundwork,”
noted Andy Forssell, senior vice president of content acquisition and distribution.

In the UK, Hulu has signed deals with Endemol (producer of Big Brother) and Digital Rights Group, which will bring episodes of Green Wing, Peep Show and Doc Martin.



The large Bollywood distributor Saavn has also signed a deal with the online video site.

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8 user comments

18.5.2009 00:34

That is really good news! Hopefully during the expansion the quality of the site and content will not be negatively affected.

28.5.2009 09:54

Allowing users outside the US would cut down on piracy. I've noticed on the bay that for some torrents, I was about to start downloading them but then read in the comments "This whole seasons on HULU, don't waste your time with this slow torrent!" And so I would go to hulu and be able to watch what I wanted to watch immediately. But then a few comments down "I don't live in the US, stupid HULU!!"

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 08 May 2009 @ 9:55

38.5.2009 12:05

I have been waiting for this so I can throw it on my XBMC. there are no real good channels and any I look up all says to get or wait to get the HULU. can't wait.

48.5.2009 14:32

Well, there are already ways to watch Hulu from outside the U.S., but it would be nice if you didn't have to jump through hoops..

John Tantillo, a branding expert, publishes a weekly brand winner/loser post on his marketing blog. He writes that Hulu's success highlights the importance of a relevant environment to successful marketing (read: targeted marketing) on the web.

Full post on Hulu.

58.5.2009 15:58

I read that post from your link, I have to agree. Hulu has taken what mostly CBS.com started first and moved it to a centralized location with compelling content, easy to navigate though that could still use some polish. Given advertisers a clean targeted market to advertise its a win win for everyone as a viewer your not bombarded with minutes of adverts and the sponsor can repeat and focus the message. We have contimplated cutting out our cable with HULU, CBS, ABC & FOX all offering such great quality now if we can just get HBO online subscriptions I would be totally locked in, gotta have my Bill Maher and True Bood.

68.5.2009 18:51

Originally posted by elliott:
I read that post from your link, I have to agree. Hulu has taken what mostly CBS.com started first and moved it to a centralized location with compelling content, easy to navigate though that could still use some polish. Given advertisers a clean targeted market to advertise its a win win for everyone as a viewer your not bombarded with minutes of adverts and the sponsor can repeat and focus the message. We have contimplated cutting out our cable with HULU, CBS, ABC & FOX all offering such great quality now if we can just get HBO online subscriptions I would be totally locked in, gotta have my Bill Maher and True Bood.
You know you can get those shows from the torrents without having to shell out 10+ a month?

78.5.2009 22:49

I just hope they start posting content on their own servers; right now most of the content I watch there is just links to other company's servers. Some shows, such as Nova, even take you to another companies website!

89.5.2009 15:18
geofftop
Inactive

spam removed

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 09 May 2009 @ 4:01

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