British shows coming to Hulu

[Bob The Skutter]

Looks like Americans interested in British shows may be able to get access to a lot for free soon, Hulu has got the rights to the Digital Rights Group catalogue of shows.

From Digital Spy

British television shows ranging from Queer as Folk to Kingdom are to be made available on online TV service Hulu.
Titles from Digital Rights Group's C4i and Portman catalogues will be added to the ad-supported service. Hulu is presently only available in the United States.
"We’re very excited to be leading the charge for British content on Hulu," said DRG's Justin Judd. "In a very short space of time it has established itself as the key player for long-form Video on Demand. We firmly believe in the commercial opportunities created by digital distribution and Hulu is the place to be. Crucially, they have demonstrated that it is possible to have video on the internet in a legal, user-friendly environment.
"We’re initially launching with content drawn from our own catalogue but we expect to increase the volume of UK programming on the service and we’re actively seeking additional high quality drama and comedy to roll out. We look forward to working with British producers and content owners to bring their programmes to this dynamic new marketplace."

 

[wamdue]

sounds interesting, but when will they allow US shows that have no UK home, be viewable to the UK?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

sounds interesting, but when will they allow US shows that have no UK home, be viewable to the UK?

Never?

 

[Deckerd]

It does say 'presently only available in the United States'.

 

[Mistral]

Is there a list of potential shows that Hulu might get?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Is there a list of potential shows that Hulu might get?

I don't think so, but it's at the minute it's the rights from C4i and Portman Film and Television.

 

[wamdue]

sounds interesting, but when will they allow US shows that have no UK home, be viewable to the UK?

Never?

that is my thinking

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

I'm hoping to get glimpses of some of the slightly more obscure stuff that isn't available on DVD in the U.S.-- Brittas Empire, Maid Marian & Her Merry Men, Robot Wars, and the final season of The Catherine Tate Show.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Still needs "Red Dwarf", "Mr. Bean", and "Are You Being Served?".

OR how about the Canadian show "Red Green"?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Well they're all BBC shows, except for Mr. Bean (which I personally hate) which was on ITV. I'm not sure weather they'd be included in this lot.

 

[SlyCardie]

It does say 'presently only available in the United States'.

Isn't all of Hulu? Or was that changed recently?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^I think it means Hulu is only available in the US, not just those shows.

 

[wamdue]

Doctor Evil whilst being on Hulu was avabile to everyone

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Doctor Evil whilst being on Hulu was avabile to everyone

Doctor Horrible?
Yeah, it was, but only after many problems. Of course it's possible, but it's all down to rights, and I doubt they're going to give them the rights to the international market, because they'd lose out on a lot of money.

 

[wamdue]

Doctor Evil whilst being on Hulu was avabile to everyone

Doctor Horrible?
Yeah, it was, but only after many problems. Of course it's possible, but it's all down to rights, and I doubt they're going to give them the rights to the international market, because they'd lose out on a lot of money.

yeah ok Doctor Horrible.

and what money? my example is of How I Meet Your Mother was on BBC & Trouble and was axed by both, its now not being shown in the UK, making no money for (lets say) CBS, so why not allow Hulu to show it in the UK, so they can make some money off the ads that Hulu will add to it?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Doctor Evil whilst being on Hulu was avabile to everyone

Doctor Horrible?
Yeah, it was, but only after many problems. Of course it's possible, but it's all down to rights, and I doubt they're going to give them the rights to the international market, because they'd lose out on a lot of money.

yeah ok Doctor Horrible.

and what money? my example is of How I Meet Your Mother was on BBC & Trouble and was axed by both, its now not being shown in the UK, making no money for (lets say) CBS, so why not allow Hulu to show it in the UK, so they can make some money off the ads that Hulu will add to it?

Because Virgin 1(let's say) might come along and buy the rights, and run adds saying "Exclusive to Virgin 1 season 3 of How I met your mother." They can't charge them for exclusive rights if the show is already being shown here online.

 

[wamdue]

but since there is nothing to suggest that this will happen they might as well just bite the bullet, and embrace the 21st century.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

but since there is nothing to suggest that this will happen they might as well just bite the bullet, and embrace the 21st century.

I might think that, you might think that, they don't.

 

[wamdue]

one more point I should have made before, is that this idea of "exclusive rights" does not exist when it comes to US content, once its aired in the US its online illegally, so HIMYM would not be a true exclusive to Virgin 1, and Virgin 1 would be crazy to pay extra for the "exclusive rights"

 

[Bob The Skutter]

one more point I should have made before, is that this idea of "exclusive rights" does not exist when it comes to US content, once its aired in the US its online illegally, so HIMYM would not be a true exclusive to Virgin 1, and Virgin 1 would be crazy to pay extra for the "exclusive rights"

You can say the same for anything though. As soon as a movie is on cinema (sometimes before) it's up online. And it happens all the time, Sky pay for exclusive rights on pretty much all their stuff, to stop terrestrial channels snapping up second run rights and showing it 18 months later, or whatever.