Five chief demands UK’s own version of Hulu

UK broadcasters must unite to launch a combined online on-demand service to compete with Hulu, according to Dawn Airey, chief of commercial broadcaster Five.

According to Variety, Airey said the success of Hulu, which is rumoured to be set for a UK launch this Autumn, was down to the fact three “ferociously competitive” US broadcasters – Fox, NBC Universal and Disney ABC – were working together.

Speaking at the Institute of Economic Affairs Future of Broadcasting Conference, she said a video-on-demand service like the proposed Canvas project, which is backed by the BBC, ITV and BT, was essential if broadcasters wanted to compete with Hulu.