Apple is the frame to buy US online video service Hulu, according to a report from Bloomberg. The claim from two anonymous sources is that Apple is currently engaged in negotiations described as “early talks that may lead to an offer for Hulu”. Talk of a bidding war for the service has been hotting up since it started shopping around for buyers after deciding not to go public with a $2bn share offering.
The deal to buy Hulu includes five years of programming from the US networks and two years of exclusive rights to shows from Disney (where Steve Jobs is the largest single shareholder), News Corp and NBC Universal. With rumours of an iCloud video service in the works, Hulu could be a perfect fit for Apple which currently has $64bn in cash reserves.
There is a fairly big issue for us Brits though: the Hulu UK launch was scuppered by a deadlock in deal making with UK channels. Let’s hope if Apple does gobble up the site, it’ll also use its klout to bring it here too.
Hulu UK
