Hulu reportedly for sale

US online video service Hulu has reportedly been approached by an un-named potential buyer, according to press reports.

The Wall Street Journal initially reported that the video site had received an unsolicited offer. The news was subsequently confirmed by other news outlets, citing sources familiar with the matter. It is not clear whether Hulu’s owners, which include News Corp, Disney and Comcast (though the latter is not represented on the board), have expressed a desire to sell. According to reports, the offer has not been made by any of the current equity holders and no decision has been made by the board about whether to sell the company.

Last year Hulu’s owners planned to raise money from an IPO that would have valued the company at US$2 billion (€1.4 billion), but the plan was abandoned in favour of developing a premium offer. One factor has been the lack of long-term contracts securing rights to the broadcast content on the service, which would also most likely influence any sale to a third-party.