Hulu Touts 40 Percent Jump in Subscribers in One Year

Hulu eclipsed 17 million total subscribers in 2017, the streaming service announced Tuesday. That’s five million more (+40 percent) total subscribers from its last publicly reported total in 2016.

The Netflix competitor also announced that its total audience has grown to 54 million total unique viewers.

“2017 was a momentous year for Hulu. We took several major steps to become a 21st century direct-to-consumer media company, evolving into both an aggressive SVOD business and a formidable new live TV provider,” said Hulu CEO Randy Freer. “The year ahead is going to be even bigger, as the company invests more in content – live, library and original – as well as technology and data to make Hulu the leading pay TV choice for consumers.”

Also Read: 'Runaways,' 'Future Man' Renewed for Second Seasons at Hulu

Last year, Hulu expanded its on-demand library to more than 75,000 episodes of television across 1,700 titles. That’s more than twice the number of episodes available on any of the other leading streaming services, the company says.

Hulu added all existing episodes of more than 600 series, including “This is Us,” “Designated Survivor,” “Atlanta,” “Futurama,” “30 Rock,” “Black-ish,” “Lost,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Will & Grace,” “Power,” “Golden Girls,” “Prison Break,” “Full House” and “Family Matters.”

Hulu’s offerings currently include its SVOD TV library (which the company says is the largest in the U.S.), its own original series, and the more than 50 top live channels in its Hulu With Live TV plan.

Also Read: Golden Globes: Streaming Giants Hulu, Amazon, Netflix Clean up Top TV Awards

Hulu took home 10 Emmy Awards last fall, including the first-ever Outstanding Drama Emmy won by a streaming service for “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and two Golden Globes on Sunday, including the award for Best Television Series – Drama (again, for “The Handmaid’s Tale”).

Here are more highlights from 2017 the company is celebrating:

• Consumers aren’t the only ones who love Hulu; brands love it as well. In 2017, Hulu’s advertising revenue reached $1 billion for the first time in the company’s history.

Also Read: 'Handmaid's Tale' Protesters at Golden Globes Take Stand for 'Violence-Free' Hollywood

• Hulu viewers have a median age of 31 – nearly 25 years younger than the average broadcast TV viewer (55) – and a median annual household income of $92,000.

• Hulu With Live TV is already driving strong engagement with its combination of live, library and original content. In December, viewers who subscribe to Hulu With Live TV spent more time watching content per day than the average linear TV viewer.

• The top three dramas on Hulu in 2017, based on hours watched, were “Law & Order: SVU,” “This is Us” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Also Read: 'Animaniacs': Hulu, Warner Bros. Partner on '90s Cartoon Reboot

• The top three comedies on Hulu in 2017, based on hours watched, were “South Park,” “Family Guy” and “Bob’s Burgers.” Notably, “Seinfeld” also cracked the top 10–Hulu viewers watched more than 65 million hours of Seinfeld in 2017.

How Streaming Networks Invaded the Emmys: From 'House of Cards' to 'Handmaid's Tale' (Photos)

The streaming services are taking over the Emmys. Four years after "House of Cards" opened up the major categories to online content providers with three wins, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have hit an all-time high with a combined total of 126 nominations. But how did we get here?
"House of Cards"
The political thriller became the first streaming-only original series to get nominated in major Emmy categories in 2013. It won three that year, including Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series and Outstanding Casting. The show has been nominated for 53 Emmys in total, six of which turned into major category wins.
Netflix
"Orange is the New Black"
Netflix seemed to be on a critical roll after "Orange is the New Black" debuted in 2014. It was nominated for 12 awards, including five in acting categories. Uzo Aduba, who plays Suzanne Warren, won for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She won a second time in 2015.
Netflix
"The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
The Tina Fey-produced comedy was called the "first great sitcom of the streaming era" and the Emmy voters seem to agree. Since premiering in 2015, the show has garnered 16 nominations.
Netflix
"Transparent"
"Transparent" was -- and still is -- Amazon Prime's flagship show. In 2015, following its debut season, it won an unprecedented five Emmy awards, including Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for Jill Soloway and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy for Jeffrey Tambor. The show has been a continuous staple at the Emmys since.
"Grace and Frankie"
2015 was a big year for streaming services at the Emmys. "Grace and Frankie" was yet another Netflix series that earned nominations in major categories. The show has continued to be a consistent presence at the awards ever since -- specifically in acting categories.
Netflix
"Jessica Jones"
The Marvel Netflix show became the first of the Defenders universe to get an Emmy win, for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.
Netflix/Marvel
"Master of None"
The big addition at the 2016 Emmys was the Aziz Ansari-led comedy "Master of None." The Netflix series earned Ansari nominations for acting, writing and directing -- and a win for writing with his colleague Alan Yang. He'll get another shot in 2017 with more nominations in the same categories, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
TheWrap
"Stranger Things"
2017 is a huge year for Netflix, with 91 nominations for the streaming giant overall. And sleeper hit "Stranger Things,"created by relative newcomers Matt and Ross Duffer, earned a staggering 18 of them, including Outstanding Drama Series. For a genre show released with little marketing, this is quite a feat.
Netflix
"The Crown"
The hugely popular (and acclaimed) period drama about the life of Queen Elizabeth II earned Netflix five Emmy nominations this year.
Netflix
"Handmaid's Tale"
In 2017, Hulu established itself as a serious original programming contender with this adaptation of Margaret Atwood's seminal novel. The highly acclaimed series not only became arguably the defining political commentary of the early Trump-Era, it also went on to make history for Hulu with 13 nominations.
Hulu
"The Beatles: Eight Days a Week"
Hulu didn't stop with "The Handmaid's Tale." This documentary about the Beatles earned five nominations.
Getty Images
"Black Mirror"
The anthology series didn't qualify for the main Emmys until the third season arrived on Netflix. It got three nominations in 2017, including two for the episode "San Junipero" -- which was nominated for Outstanding Television Movie, despite being a part of an anthology.
Netflix

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Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have a combined 126 nominations this year

The streaming services are taking over the Emmys. Four years after "House of Cards" opened up the major categories to online content providers with three wins, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have hit an all-time high with a combined total of 126 nominations. But how did we get here?

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How Streaming Networks Invaded the Emmys: From 'House of Cards' to 'Handmaid's Tale' (Photos)

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