Disney Joins NBC and News Corp. with Hulu Stake

May 1, 2009 - 3:19 am | 12 views

Technology.am (May 1, 2009) —Disney movies and ABC TV shows will be available on Hulu.com now that Walt Disney Co. is taking an equity stake in Hulu.com, joining its founders, NBC Universal and News Corp.

The deal announced Thursday will bring older Disney movies to the site, along with ABC and Disney Channel shows such as “Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Wizards of Waverly Place” after they run on TV.

Disney has a deal to provide short-form ESPN and ABC content to YouTube. But in general, ABC, NBC and Fox now will be pitting their premium material against YouTube.

“It’s an extremely big blow to YouTube,” said Gartner Inc. research vice president Allen Weiner.

Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger, Disney/ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney and Kevin Mayer, a Disney senior vice president, will join Hulu’s board. Fox and NBC also have three representatives on the 12-member board.

Disney’s money will fund advertising for Hulu on Disney properties, said one of the people with knowledge of the deal. Fox’s and NBC’s investments went for similar purposes.

Financial terms were not disclosed till now.

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