- Hulu
Infobox Dotcom company
company_name = Hulu, LLC
company_slogan = Watch your favorites. Anytime. For free.
owner =NBC Universal andNews Corp
company_
company_type = Joint Venture
foundation =August 29 ,2007
location_city = Los Angeles,California
location_country = U.S.
key_people = Jason Kilar, CEO
homepage = [http://www.hulu.com/ hulu.com]
caption =
url = [http://hulu.com/ hulu.com]
launch_date =March 12 ,2008
language =
website_type =video on demand Hulu is a website that offers free, ad-supported
streaming video of TV shows and movies fromNBC ,FOX , and many other networks and studios. Hulu videos are currently offered only to users in theUnited States . []Hulu provides video in
Flash Video format in a higher resolution and bit-rate thanYouTube , but lower thanstandard-definition television , though many films and shows are available in480p . Hulu also provides web syndication services for other websites includingAOL ,MSN ,MySpace ,Yahoo! , andComcast 's Fancast.com. Hulu provides one of the largest free video selections from a collection of over 50 broadcasting networks. It allows the users to watch shows with limited commercial interruption.Content providers
Hulu distributes video both on its own web site and syndicated to other sites. [cite news |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120519822483125987.html?mod=technology_main_promo_left |title=Can Hulu Find Its Mojo With Viewers? |accessdate=2008-03-19 |date=2008-03-11 |author=Rebecca Dana and Emily Steel |work=
The Wall Street Journal ] In addition to NBC and FOX programs, Hulu carries shows from other networks such asComedy Central ,PBS ,USA Network , Bravo,Fuel TV , FX,SPEED Channel , Sci Fi, Style, Sundance,E! , G4, Versus and Oxygen.Television shows
Hulu offers full episodes and segments from over 400 different TV shows, some no longer on the air, some in syndication, and many currently shown only in the United States. The TV content on Hulu is provided by NBC, Fox, and their TV production subsidiaries
Universal Media Studios and20th Century Fox Television , respectively, as well as the aforementioned cable networks, and other TV studios such asSony Pictures Television ,Warner Bros. Television ,MGM Television , andLionsgate Television . Hulu allows users to share or edit these clips. Shows that get the most traffic on the site include "The Daily Show ", "The Colbert Report ", "Battlestar Galactica ", "The Simpsons ", "Arrested Development", "Family Guy ", "The Office", "Saturday Night Live ", "American Dad! ", and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia ". It is the original host of Joss Whedon's "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog ".Movies
Hulu offers over 100 motion pictures that range from classic to modern films. The movie content is provided by studios such as
Universal Pictures ,20th Century Fox , MGM,Lionsgate Entertainment , andSony Pictures among others. Hulu also offers trailers for new and upcoming movies. R-rated and TV-MA content is available unedited but only for registered users.Features
Hulu has an
online social networking feature which allows users to createvideo clip s for posting in otheronline communities .]History
The Hulu venture was announced in March 2007, with AOL, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo! planned as "initial distribution partners". [cite press release |url=http://www.hulu.com/press/new_video_venture.html |title=NBC Universal and News Corp. Accounce New Online Video Venture |work= [http://www.hulu.com/about/press_room Press Room] |publisher=Hulu |accessdate=2008-03-28 |date=2007-03-22] cite news |url=http://www.thestreet.com/s/googles-still-on-top/newsanalysis/technet/10346071.html |title=Google's Still on Top |accessdate=2007-08-29 |date=2007-03-22 |author=Nat Worden |work=
TheStreet.com ]Jason Kilar , formerly ofAmazon.com , was namedCEO in June. [cite press release |url=http://www.hulu.com/press/jason_kilar_ceo.html |title=Jason Kilar Named Chief Executive Officer |work= [http://www.hulu.com/about/press_room Press Room] |publisher=Hulu |accessdate=2008-03-28 |date=2007-06-28] The name "Hulu" was chosen in late August, when the website went live, with an announcement only and no content. It invited users to leave their email addresses for the upcomingbeta test . [cite news |url=http://www.thestreet.com/s/googles-new-foe-hulu/newsanalysis/mediaentertainment/10376991.html |title=Google's New Foe: Hulu |accessdate=2007-08-29 |date=2007-08-29 |author=Nat Worden |work=TheStreet.com ] In October Hulu began the private beta testing by invitation, and allowed users to invite friends. [cite press release |url=http://www.hulu.com/press/private_beta.html |title=Hulu Debuts Via Private Beta |work= [http://www.hulu.com/about/press_room Press Room] |publisher=Hulu |accessdate=2008-03-28 |date=2007-10-29] Hulu launched for public access in theUnited States onMarch 12 ,2008 .Hulu is a joint venture of
NBC Universal andNews Corp , with funding byProvidence Equity Partners , which made a USD$100 million equity investment and holds a 10% stake. [cite news |url=http://www.cable360.net/competition/web/25376.html |title=NBC and Fox Jump Through Hulu Hoop |accessdate=2007-08-29 |date=2007-08-29 |author=Shirley Brady |work=Cable360.net]The name "Hulu" comes from a
Mandarin Chinese proverb(宝葫芦), in which it means "holder of precious things".cite news |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20185419,00.html |title=Hulu: Five Burning Questions |accessdate=2008-03-27 |date=2008-03-28 |author=Tim Stack |work=Entertainment Weekly ] Literally, it refers (in Chinese) to thecalabash gourd.cite web
url = http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Lagenaria.html
title = M.M.P.N.D. - Sorting Lagenaria names]References
External links
* [http://www.hulu.com Hulu Official website]
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