Leading over-the-top (OTT) service Hulu is reportedly developing a subscription service that would stream feeds of popular US broadcast and cable TV channels.
uluUntil now, Hulu co-owned by Disney, Comcast and FOX, has offered on-demand programming from major networks, similar to Netflix. Yet The Wall Street Journal has reported that the company is in talks with all of the major broadcasters to supply content.
The move would make the company a competitor to traditional pay-TV providers and other new digital entrants, especially Sling TV, which recently added FOX fare to its streaming line-up, and which already had ABC on board.
Hulu is said to be hoping to launch the new online service in the first quarter of 2017 and if so it could be more bad news for pay-TV. The Diffusion Group (TDG) recently found that among those moderately or highly likely to downgrade their pay-TV service in the next six months, 29% of their TV time is spent watching streaming sources. That’s significantly more than those neutral or unlikely to downgrade.
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