Time Warner Buys 10 Percent Stake in Hulu to Help Bolster Live-Streaming Service

[MacRumors]

Time Warner has officially taken a 10 percent ownership stake in popular streaming service Hulu, joining a list of companies already invested, including Disney, 21st Century Fox and Comcast/NBC Universal. Time Warner is preparing to invest $583 million into Hulu, "implying Hulu is worth nearly $6 billion," as Variety pointed out.

The split now divides Hulu up by 30 percent shares for each of the previous three owners, leaving 10 percent for Time Warner's new co-ownership. The new partner won't directly contribute any of its network shows into Hulu's current services, but it will help bolster the company's upcoming live-streaming service with Time Warner's line up of channels. Specifically, Time Warner owns TNT, TBS, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, truTV, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies.

Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins said, "This investment from Time Warner marks a major step for Hulu as we continue to redefine television for both consumers and advertisers. Our two companies have long enjoyed a productive relationship - which includes the availability of past seasons of popular Turner shows on our current SVOD offerings - and we are very proud that Turner's networks will be included in our planned live streaming service."

Earlier in May, it was rumored that Apple had considered purchasing Time Warner, to potentially use the company's assets as a basis for Apple's own streaming TV service. Yesterday, in an interview with Bloomberg, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes mentioned that this idea -- reportedly begun by Apple Executive Eddy Cue -- landed more on the side of a mutual partnership rather than an outright merger and acquisition.

That particular one is more about the efforts of the technology companies, Apple included, who we've been trying to help because we want this better user interface, and what they should do and how would they get involved. That's more about that than M&A. I don't think M&A was serious.

Although many believe that the universal shift to online video-streaming TV bundles is inevitable, Bewkes himself still thinks traditional paid-cable packages will have legs for at least the next decade. The CEO believes that the cable companies will retain their traditional bundle sizes and price points, but that eventually these companies will begin to placate potential cable cutters with "full video on-demand and very good search recommendation and navigation engines."

Hulu's upcoming live-streaming service is believed to also offer a cloud-based DVR functionality that will let users record shows and set reminders in an attempt to ease the transition for any user coming from traditional cable boxes. Still, the reportedly $40 per month service "isn't looking to offer all the hundreds of channels found in the traditional cable bundle," but merely be an amalgamation of the channels offered by its now-four investors.

Article Link: Time Warner Buys 10 Percent Stake in Hulu to Help Bolster Live-Streaming Service

 

[Rogifan]

Tell me again why these companies need Apple (other than as a platform to offer their services)? Why let Apple offer this stuff when they can just offer it themselves (and not have to give Apple a cut).

 

[Derekuda]

Hulu needs to die. Such a POS service. Selection really sucks. And watching commercials on a paid service is a slap in the face. It's the reason cable is dying and why Hulu will hopefully die soon too.

 

[Xavier]

Hulu needs to die. Such a POS service. Selection really sucks. And watching commercials on a paid service is a slap in the face. It's the reason cable is dying and why Hulu will hopefully die soon too.

I have never used hulu, but is this really the case? Wow, not going to win anyone over with commercials. That's the reason why I don't have cable!

 

[Thunderhawks]

Dear MR.

Please display the hulu logo a tiny touch bigger.
I could barely see it!

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I have never used hulu, but is this really the case? Wow, not going to win anyone over with commercials. That's the reason why I don't have cable!

Hulu was started by traditional networks as a way to protect their legacy business model under the threat of Netflix.

 

[Eidorian]

My Hulu account might be turning into a Crunchyroll account. All I use it for is streaming anime and it's not even the best platform for that. Netflix is still my favorite service.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Tell me again why these companies need Apple (other than as a platform to offer their services)? Why let Apple offer this stuff when they can just offer it themselves (and not have to give Apple a cut).

I think by now ALL companies have figured out that with technology where it is they do not need Apple.

The Apple customer base they'll get anyway via the Apple TV wherever a consumer has WiFi.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Hulu needs to die. Such a POS service. Selection really sucks. And watching commercials on a paid service is a slap in the face. It's the reason cable is dying and why Hulu will hopefully die soon too.

You know they have a commercial-free tier, right? It's only a few dollars more.

I'm like Hulu. Their AppleTV app isn't great, but there is no other legal service that lets you stream new episodes the night after they air. It's basically like a cable box's on-demand service, but on AppleTV and no commercials.

 

[whatthewhere]

Yep, Hulu is a great service. Couple bucks and no commercials. Totally worth it. People pay more than that just to rent a DVR from cable company and you still have to fast forward. Plus you get access to hundreds and hundreds of Criterion Collections.

Only thing I don't like is some of their shows don't appear until after the season ends (Fear the Walking Dead), or they will only have the most recent season so things like American Crime, I can't catch up on.

Watching through "Thick of It" right now.

 

[2010mini]

Wasn't there talk of Apple buying Hulu some time ago?

 

[pwhitehead]

Let the nerd rage war begin.

 

[sw1tcher]

Hulu needs to die. Such a POS service. Selection really sucks. And watching commercials on a paid service is a slap in the face.

Umm.....

https://help.hulu.com/articles/52427902

Your guide to the No Commercials plan

Summary

Hulu now gives you a choice of two plans: Limited Commercials (our existing $7.99 plan) and our new No Commercials plan. With our No Commercials plan, you can now watch your favorite shows commercial free on all of your supported devices.

It's the reason cable is dying and why Hulu will hopefully die soon too.

Commercials aren't the reason why "cable is dying"

 

[Phil in ocala]

Hulu needs to die. Such a POS service. Selection really sucks. And watching commercials on a paid service is a slap in the face. It's the reason cable is dying and why Hulu will hopefully die soon too.

++++++++++++++++++
You said it...all it has is "re-runs" movies that have been out there for 30 years......Who wants to pay for old stuff??????????

 

[69Mustang]

Dear MR.

Please display the hulu logo a tiny touch bigger.
I could barely see it!

Worse? The large font size ensures you can't unsee the misaligned artifact in the lower right corner of the U's in Hulu. Can not unsee.

On topic: It's interesting TW CEO admits that the traditional packages are eventually going to go away. The timeframe he gives seems realistic in that it gives them time to monetize the new paradigm in a way where they won't lose revenue and we won't benefit any more than we do now. I can pretty much guarantee the product mixes will exclude certain popular channels from each package ensuring customers will need to "tier up" <-- that right there. that sweet, sweet pun. definitely intended-- to get exactly what they want. They will probably also keep the legacy packages hanging around for the ad revenue and for customers who love to channel surf everything.

/still can't unsee the jags in the U's in hulu

 

[vmachiel]

It's ridiculous that companies that own pipes get to own content. I know regulation is scary, but things would be so much better if those two had remained separated.

 

[69Mustang]

Wasn't there talk of Apple buying Hulu some time ago?

It's right in the article.

 

[Rogifan]

I think by now ALL companies have figured out that with technology where it is they do not need Apple.

The Apple customer base they'll get anyway via the Apple TV wherever a consumer has WiFi.

Exactly. Which is why I'm always amused when my Twitter feed is full of Apple bloggers/watchers claiming Apple holds all the cards and defend Eddy Cue showing up in meetings looking like a slob. The reality is Apple probably needs them more than they need Apple. Apple's never going to deny these companies a place on their platforms but if hardware sales continue to shrink Apple will need new sources of revenue and Wall Street will be looking to subscription type services. Eventually Apple will no longer be able to play hardball.

 

[69Mustang]

It's ridiculous that companies that own pipes get to own content. I know regulation is scary, but things would be so much better if those two had remained separated.

Better how? The separation would not guarantee any better pricing, choice, or content.

 

[RowellE]

I think you got 21st Century Insurance mixed up with 20th Century Fox.

 

[skywalkerr69]

Not a shocker, Comcast NBC Universal owns a share too.

 

[Creek0512]

I think you got 21st Century Insurance mixed up with 20th Century Fox.

20th Century Fox is a film studio and is a subsidiary of the publicly traded media conglomerate 21st Century Fox.
[doublepost=1470237000][/doublepost]

Not a shocker, Comcast NBC Universal owns a share too.

Considering NBC Universal was one of the original partners in Hulu, I have to agree that it's not a shocker.

 

[TechZeke]

You know they have a commercial-free tier, right? It's only a few dollars more.

I'm like Hulu. Their AppleTV app isn't great, but there is no other legal service that lets you stream new episodes the night after they air. It's basically like a cable box's on-demand service, but on AppleTV and no commercials.

Beat me to it. There are allot more current shows and movies on Hulu than Netflix. Netflix doesn't have commericals because they are not paying the high priced licenses to get current TV shows and movies.

 

[sw1tcher]

++++++++++++++++++
You said it...all it has is "re-runs" movies that have been out there for 30 years......Who wants to pay for old stuff??????????

Apple users?

- iMac's with 5,400 rpm HDD's
- MacBook Pro's and Mac Pro's with processors that are behind by at least 2 generations
- (up until its recent discontinuation) Apple Thunderbolt display with 4+ year old tech

 

[bpeeps]

Apple users?

- iMac's with 5,400 rpm HDD's
- MacBook Pro's and Mac Pro's with processors that are behind by at least 2 generations
- (up until its recent discontinuation) Apple Thunderbolt display with 4+ year old tech

Nice veiled attempt to complain about hardware in an unrelated post.