Hulu seeks tie-ups with UK producers for its VoD service

Hulu, the US ad-supported video-on-demand service, is targeting the UK’s independent production community, responsible for the worldwide success of some of the UK’s biggest TV formats, in its latest attempt to gather support for its launch.

Hulu

The Disney, NBC and News Corp joint-venture this week hosted an evening for members of Pact, the trade body representing independent TV, film and digital production companies. The event aimed to outline the service to producers, explaining potential business models and setting out how Hulu would improve revenues.

The event was presented by Hulu’s senior VP of international, Johannes Larcher, who is heading the company’s UK launch.

“There were very frank discussions, they are upfront about what they do, which is refreshing compared with talking to the UK broadcaster dinosaurs,” said Pact CEO John McVay. “They said the UK was the second most important market after the US and people were seriously impressed and excited by the opportunities.”

A source that attended the event said Hulu did not reveal a launch date but said it expected to launch in mid 2010. It said it would replicate deal terms it had struck in the US and would have its own sales teams.

Anthony Lilley, chief creative officer and CEO of Magic Lantern and member of the Ofcom content board, said, “Hulu is talking to the right people. You can do a deal with the distributors or the production outfit and all the rights revert back to the producers in the long term.”

This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk