Hulu in the thick of first int’l copro

US online video service Hulu has struck its first international coproduction deal, tying up with the BBC’s commercial arm for the new series of Armando Iannucci’s The Thick of It.

The Thick of It

Hulu has partnered with BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) Americas on the fourth season of the British political satire and will debut the show in the autumn – the same day it airs back home on the Beeb.

The US video streamer, which has committed to spending US$500m on content this year and whose CEO Jason Kilar has just been announced as keynote speaker at Mipcom in Cannes in October – will also now get exclusivity on the first three seasons, beginning July 29.

These have already broadcast in the US on BBC America, which will also show the fourth season once Hulu has had its bite at the cherry.

Earlier this week, BBCWW singled out deals with Hulu, Netflix and Amazon as key to the growth it’s seen in digital over the past year – a key driver in overall revenue growth, now accounting for 12.8% out of a record £1.085m (US$1.685m).

Hulu’s move into international coproduction sees the company catching up on rival Netflix, which has already placed more sizeable stakes in the ground with series like Lilyhammer and Hemlock Grove. Amazon too is moving into the production space.

Created by the scribe behind HBO’s Veep and Oscar-nominated film In the Loop, The Thick of It takes a satirical look at the inner workings of British government, focusing on ruthless director of communications Malcolm Tucker, played by Peter Capaldi.

“We’re really excited to give US audiences a chance to catch up with all previous episodes, and as series co-producers for season four, we are proud to make full seasons of this distinctive and smart show available exclusively to Hulu viewers,” said Hulu senior VP of content Andy Forssell.

The Hulu exec gets an executive producer credit alongside the BBC’s Mark Freeland and producer Adam Tandy. The series is written by Tony Roche, Simon Blackwell, Ian Martin, Will Smith, Roger Drew and Sean Gray.