With the company accepting bids for sale, Hulu has launched its first international subscription service in Japan. It also announced that CBS will provide content in Japan to the streaming site, a venture between CBS' network rivals.
The company announced on Wednesday night that it will be charging a monthly fee for access to American movies and television shows in Japan, marking its first international expansion. The CBS deal, announced Thursday, calls for certain shows from CBS Corp.'s library to be available to Hulu's subscribers in Japan.
Also read: Hulu to Launch in Japan
“Since launching Hulu in 2008 in the U.S., we have been working hard to bring our service to consumers outside our home market and become a global brand. Today, we are taking a first, but important step to make good on our aspiration to serve customers all over the world,” said Johannes Larcher, SVP of International for Hulu.
But the move comes at a complicated time for the streaming service, as its co-owners – e Disney, NewsCorp, Comcast and Providence Equity – are accepting bids for sale.
Thus far Google, Amazon, Yahoo and Dish have all submitted bids.
Hulu has also struck licensing deals with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company (Japan), featuring content from Disney/ABC Television Group and The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros.