Hulu

Hulu was founded on March 22, 2007, as a joint venture between NBC Universal, News Corporation, and Providence Equity Partners. The company was created to aggregate recent episodes of television series from their respective television networks and offer them to watch online. This move was a strategic attempt to compete with the growing market of online video streaming pioneered by platforms like YouTube.

On March 12, 2008, Hulu launched to the public as an aggregator for recent episodes of television series from NBC and Fox television networks, featuring content from major broadcasting networks. Users could watch shows by streaming them instantly on their web browsers free of charge, disrupting traditional TV viewing habits. It marked a crucial moment in digital media, providing quality TV programming through the internet.

Hulu announced Hulu Plus on June 29, 2010, a subscription service offering full current seasons of shows from ABC, NBC, and Fox with cost at $9.99 per month. This initiative marked Hulu's first step into a subscription video on demand model, offering more comprehensive content compared to its free service. It intended to provide more mobility to its users, allowing streaming on a variety of mobile and home devices.

On November 1, 2011, Hulu started dipping into original programming with shows like 'Battleground,' signaling its intent to compete with other giants like Netflix. This move was significant as it represented Hulu's pivot from being just a streaming service for network content to becoming a content creator itself, thus aligning itself more closely with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime in the streaming industry.

On July 12, 2013, Hulu owners 21st Century Fox, NBCUniversal, and The Walt Disney Company announced that they would not be selling the company after all, ending the strategic review process launched earlier. The companies decided to maintain joint ownership and finance Hulu with a $750 million cash infusion. This decision came amidst growing competition in the streaming video sector, weighing new partnerships and content strategies.

On May 3, 2017, Hulu launched its live television streaming service, adding over 50 channels for subscribers along with on-demand content. This service, initially priced at $39.99 per month, included major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, as well as cable channels such as ESPN. This move was designed to capitalize on the growing trend of cord-cutting, where viewers move away from traditional cable services to online streaming alternatives.

On March 20, 2019, Disney finalized its acquisition of a 30% stake in Hulu from 21st Century Fox, giving it a full 60% controlling stake. This move came after Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, thereby positioning the company to control Hulu's direction and strategy. Disney's control over Hulu was part of its larger strategy to increase its direct-to-consumer business and bolster its streaming presence alongside its Disney+ service.

On May 14, 2019, Comcast agreed to relinquish control over Hulu to Disney, completing a deal that could see Disney take full ownership of Hulu within a few years. Under this deal, Comcast retained its 33% financial stake in Hulu, but Disney now had operational control. This marked a significant moment that streamlined control of Hulu under Disney's vision, bolstering its competitiveness against Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

On November 19, 2021, the Disney+ bundle offering expanded to include a more integrated Hulu experience. This integration was part of Disney's strategy to add more value to their subscription offering by combining their services under one umbrella, in contrast to services like Netflix. Subscribers could access Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ as a combined package, aiming to create a diverse streaming library appealing to a wide range of audiences.

On December 8, 2022, Hulu experienced blackouts for certain regional sports networks, leading to frustration among sports fans who used Hulu's Live TV service. This brought attention to the complicated nature of licensing agreements and the challenges of delivering comprehensive sports coverage via streaming platforms, as sports rights were often segregated by numerous local and regional agreements, leading to gaps in availability.