Home Hulu Looks to Expand Outside the US

Hulu Looks to Expand Outside the US

Hulu, the partnership between NBC, ABC and Fox experimenting with high-quality, ad-supported, professional online video content, is aiming to break out of its US-only limited service.

Jessica Vascellaro and Sam Schechner reported in the Wall St. Journal this afternoon that Hulu CEO Jason Kilar told them the company is looking to expand internationally and may be willing to take on additional investors to do so.

“Mr. Kilar said there is an ‘unmet need’ for an online television service in markets around the world,” the Journal report says, “but he declined to specify what countries Hulu is targeting or its time frame.” Vascellaro and Schechner cite an unnamed source who claims Japan is first on the list.

The web may be global, but content distribution rights generally aren’t. The products of the most powerful content industries, like music, movies and TV, are often licensed by distributors for distribution in one country at a time, and in highly limited circumstances. That’s why Pandora can’t be listened to outside the US and why Spotify hasn’t been able to come to the US yet, because music industry rights holders want a whole lot of money from the technology companies that would like to play their music world-wide.

New investors would help Hulu pay more licensing fees and help the company grow beyond the limits of its current advertising and premium subscription revenues.

For would-be online TV watchers around the world, the Journal report is simply good news. It means the high-quality viewing experience of Hulu looks a little more likely to be available to you in the future than it is today.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.