Hulu, Sony Pictures Television Up Sense of 'Community'

15 Aug, 2016 By: Erik Gruenwedel

---

SVOD service also licenses seasons of “Underground,” “Outsiders” and “Rescue Me”

Hulu Aug. 16 announced new licensing agreements with Sony Pictures Television that adds the sixth and final season of “Community,” in addition to exclusive streaming rights to WGN America’s slave-era scripted series “Underground,” and modern-day Appalachia series “Outsiders.” All past episodes of the shows are available now and future seasons will become available to stream on Hulu eight days following their broadcast finales.

In addition to “Community,” the agreements will make the complete library of the Emmy-nominated series, “Rescue Me,” available to Hulu subscribers for the first time later this month.

The deals expand upon Hulu and Sony’s relationship. Earlier this year, the compnaies announced a library deal that added full seasons of “Happy Endings,” “The Shield,” “Party of Five,” “Dawson’s Creek,” and “Damages,” in addition to movies Jerry Maguire, Midnight in Paris and My Best Friend’s Wedding.

"Underground" and "Outsiders" join all past seasons of WGN America’s "Manhattan," which Hulu acquired the exclusive SVOD rights to in a previous agreement.

Hulu, which just eliminated ad-supported free access, has a mandate from corporate owners Disney, 21st Century Fox, Comcast and Time Warner to establish a legitimate SVOD contender to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It recently expanded its library to include: “Roots,” “Blindspot,” “Empire,” “Fargo,” “Lucifer,” “Curious George” and “South Park.”

The service has also licensed deals with cable networks FX, Turner and AMC Networks, as well as full libraries of broadcast and cable shows, films and original series.

Bookmark it: