Hulu adds CBS nets to live TV service
From http://advanced-television.com/2017/01/05/hulu-adds-cbs-nets-to-live-tv-service/
Premium entertainment streaming service Hulu has agreed a comprehensive deal with CBS Corporation to carry America’s most-watched broadcast network, CBS, as well as popular sports and entertainment channels CBS Sports Network and POP, with the potential to add additional networks in the future. All networks in the deal will be available to stream live, with much of their programming available on-demand as well, through Hulu’s new multichannel, live TV streaming service, set to launch in the coming months.
With the addition of the CBS channels, subscribers to Hulu’s new live service will have access to popular programming, including Big Bang Theory, NCIS, Big Brother, Blue Bloods and 60 Minutes, both live and on-demand.
CBS’s sports programming, including the NFL on CBS (all preseason, regular and post-season games broadcast on CBS) and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will also be offered on the new service, as well as news programming and specials, CBS’s leading late night shows and major annual live events such as The Grammys. In addition, the new deal extends Showtime Networks’ existing deal with Hulu in which SHOWTIME is offered as a premium subscription service to those customers who subscribe to Hulu’s live or SVoD service.
“To build a successful live TV service, you have to have viewers’ favorite sports and shows — and CBS’s programming is absolutely vital to that mix,” said Mike Hopkins, CEO of Hulu. “With 21st Century Fox, Disney, Turner and now CBS on board, our new live service will offer one of the most valuable sports, news and entertainment line-ups anywhere – from ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports and TNT to ABC, CBS, FOX and The Disney Channel.”
“We are very pleased to make CBS available on Hulu’s new live TV service,” said Ray Hopkins, President, Television Networks Distribution, CBS Corporation. “Hulu has made it clear that it understands the value that the CBS Television Network, along with Showtime and our basic cable network portfolio, will bring to this new offering. In addition, today’s announcement represents another significant step in our strategy to deliver CBS’s industry leading content to viewers whenever and where ever they want to watch it, at terms that are consistent with the Company’s goals.”
The CBS deal follows Hulu’s recently announced agreements with 21st Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company, which encompassed more than 35 top networks, including broadcast networks FOX and ABC; Fox Sports networks such as the Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2 and BTN; ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN-SEC and ESPN 3; Fox Regional Sports Networks across dozens of key national markets; Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior; Fox News and Fox Business; Freeform; FX, FXX and FXM; and National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild.
Earlier this year, Hulu announced an affiliate agreement with Time Warner Inc. for live and on-demand streaming of Turner’s suite of popular entertainment, sports, news and kids’ networks including TNT, TBS, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, truTV, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies.
As a complement to the company’s current ad-supported and ad-free subscription video on demand products, Hulu’s new service will offer subscribers the most valuable, premium live TV offering on the market in a new user experience. With no set-up costs or installation, it will feature an easy-to-use, intuitive and personalised interface, that brings together live and on-demand news, entertainment and sports, all in one place, across hundreds of living room and mobile devices.
