Hulu adds NBCU nets to live stream

Freakish has been given a second season on Hulu

US streaming service Hulu has agreed a deal with NBCUniversal to make the latter’s channels available on its forthcoming live-streaming internet TV service.

It means NBC, Telemundo, USA, Syfy, Bravo, E!, MSNBC, CNBC, NBCSN, Sprout (soon to be known as Universal Kids) and others will be among the 50-plus channels available live and on-demand as part of the core package on Hulu’s streaming service, which is on the verge of launching.

Hulu’s live offering, which will cost less than US$40 per month, will also feature channels from Hulu’s parent firms The Walt Disney Company, 21st Century Fox and Turner Networks, including ABC, Fox, ESPN, CNN, TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior.

Deals have also been struck with CBS Corporation and A+E Networks, while notable omissions include channels from Viacom, which has not reached any agreement with the streamer.

“With this agreement in place, Hulu will soon provide an affordable, complete live TV package that includes all four major broadcast networks, the top-rated cable news channels, a massive sports offering and our deep existing premium streaming library for under US$40,” said Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins.

Matt Bond, chairman of NBCUniversal Content Distribution, added: “Growing our audience is an important priority and this partnership will help bring our networks to new customers.”

In related news, Hulu has renewed its horror series Freakish, created by online youth-skewing producer AwesomenessTV (ATV), for a second season.

The show follows a group of students at a small-town high school as they fight for survival when predatory mutants take over after a meltdown at the local chemical plant.