Hulu Inks Streaming Deal with The CW

28 Oct, 2011 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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The CW Television Network Oct. 28 said it signed a five-year content license agreement with Hulu and Hulu Plus.

Programming from CW, a joint venture of CBS Corp. and Warner Bros., will be available on Hulu and the subscription video-on-demand service Hulu Plus later this year. Programs will include the network’s fall 2011 schedule featuring new series “Ringer,” “Hart of Dixie” and “The Secret Circle,” as well as returning hits “The Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl,” “Supernatural,” “Nikita,” “90210” and “America’s Next Top Model.”

Hulu Plus will be the only SVOD service to carry in-season episodes of The CW’s drama and reality series, with the five most recent episodes of each show available to subscribers the next day after broadcast. Users of the free, ad-supported Hulu service will be able to watch five episodes of current season programming eight days after airing on The CW.

“As we increase the amount of year round original programming on The CW, this deal provides our shows with greater exposure on a new platform, helping build even more awareness that will drive viewers back to the network and its affiliates,” said Mark Pedowitz, president, The CW, in a statement. “We see this as a win for everyone involved, the network, the stations, Hulu and ultimately, the viewers.”

Indeed, the agreement differs from a recent pact between The CW and Netflix that allows the SVOD service’s members to stream current and future episodes from The CW beginning in the fall of 2012. It also underscores CBS Corp. CEO Les Moonves’ mandate to license content to SVOD ahead of ad-supported VOD platforms.

The lone exceptions are previous episodes of “Nikita,” which began streaming on Netflix Oct. 15.
 

 

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