Hulu Signs New Deal To Offer Leading Disney Channels
Hulu today announced new affiliate agreements with 21st Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company that will add Fox’s premier entertainment, news, sports and non-fiction services, as well as Disney’s portfolio of networks from Disney/ABC Television Group and ESPN Inc. to the line-up of programming that will be available to stream live and on-demand through Hulu’s new TV streaming service, set to launch in early 2017.
“We’re building a service that offers subscribers the most sought-after programming on television — and channels from 21st Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company are essential to that mix,” said Mike Hopkins, CEO of Hulu. “With these two new deals in place, and additional partners to come, Hulu will soon give TV fans of all ages live and on-demand access to their favorite programs in a whole new, more flexible, highly personalized way.”
Hulu’s comprehensive new agreements with 21st Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company encompass 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 live TV streaming service will offer subscribers the most valuable, premium streaming entertainment offering on the market in a groundbreaking, new experience at an affordable price. With no set-up costs or installation, it will feature an easy-to-use, intuitive and personalized interface, and will deliver instant access to live and on-demand news, entertainment and sports networks, across hundreds of living room and mobile devices.