Hulu confirms live TV streaming plans

Hulu has confirmed it will start offering streaming of live TV from next year.

Speaking at the company’s Upfront yesterday, CEO Mike Hopkins said the on-demand service will start making “live programming from broadcast and cable brands” available from next year.

The Wall Street Journal broke the story earlier this week. At that point ABC, ESPN and Disney Channel, Fox News, FX and Fox’s sports channels were thought to be part of the plan, although Hopkins did not reference specific channel brands.

He did say, however, that the streaming options will cover live sport, news and events.

Hopkins added that viewers will not need an existing cable subscription to watch the content.

Hulu’s current on-demand streaming service offers hundreds of thousands of hours of TV programming and movies to subscribers with limited commercials for US$7.99 per month or with no commercials for US$11.99 per month

At the same Upfront event, Hulu announced the creation a new feature docs banner, Hulu Documentary Films, and bought a Ron Howard film on the Beatles as part of the factual move.

Hulu Documentary Films will house original and exclusive feature-docs. Its first acquisition is the upcoming Ron Howard and Brian Grazer film The Beatles: Eight Days A Week, which will launch theatrically this autumn and then on Hulu.

At the Upfront, Hulu told the assembled advertisers that its subs base had increased 30% year on year and will hit 12 million this month.