Hulu looking to Launch its Free TV in The UK Within Two Months
Hulu has revealed that launching its online Free TV services in the UK is a top priority and has said it is ready to work with isp’s to make it happen.
Although currently only available in the US at present, a UK launch of its TV player is widely expected to happen in September of 2009.
Previously we have commented on Hulu’s growing interest in the UK market. See Is Hulu coming to the UK? and Hulu tv content to go international?
Senior VC at Hulu International , Johannes Larcher said at the Future of Broadcasting conference held in London that the Company was making the UK a priority as it rolls out an international service.
He was not confirmin which UK broadcasting partners Hulu was talking to, and he would not confirm a launch date. But it is believed that negotiations with the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are continuing, and a launch during September is still the plan.
“We are talking to everyone. The UK is our number one priority in terms of international expansion. We are very interested in the UK. We hope in the very near future we will have some plans to reveal for the UK,” Mr Larcher explained. He added that the “UK was very ready for a product like Hulu”.
Questoned about Hulu ensuring that the UK version of its player would have high quality video, he said that the Free TV service was open to working with British internet service providers to make sure its quality was maintained.
He also revealed that the UK version of Hulu would be different from the American Hulu offering, as it would be more localised. He said:- “We will localise our model so we are not perceived as a US company,”.
He also said that that after the demise Project Kangaroo, Hulu was trying to grab market share in the online video market. Project Kangaroo was the name of the proposed UK Catch up TV service a la Hulu proposed by the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4, which was blocked by the Competition Commission earlier this year. “Project Kangaroo has opened up certain opportunities we would like to exploit,” said Mr Larcher.
Commentators are suggesting that Hulu will follow the existing UK catch up tv services in allowing access to content the night after it broadcasts and for 30 days thereafter.
The UK is crying out for a service like Hulu enabling access to all TV show content on demand from a single source. So the sooner it arrives the better.
Related posts:
- Is Hulu coming to the UK?
- Hulu showing UK shows but only in the US
- Hulu tv content to go international?
- Hulu To Stop Being Free By 2010
- Over One Million Korean Internet TV subscribers in Nine Months
If Hulu could be accessed outside of the US it would be wonderful for those fans who are tired of waiting a year (or more!) to catch up! I hope it happens – and soon!
I cannot wait to see Hulu over here
The amount of times i have ended up on that site or clicking on an embedded link that tells me to piss off cos im not in the US.
Bring it on Hulu
[...] Once this deal is wrapped up it is believed that the BBC Worldwide will be next in Hulu’s sights for possible partners, giving it enough content to launch. The problem is these deals all take time to thrash out which may affect Hulu’s planned September UK launch. [...]
[...] Whilst the unstable Hulu saga marches on, and the debate over whether they should charge continues. Hulu are still expanding their streaming service to many countries including the UK in early 2010. [...]