ITV close to signing Hulu content deal

Online video service Hulu is just weeks away from announcing a content deal with ITV, according to reports.

It has been in talks with BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 but is most advanced in discussions with ITV, said a report in the Daily Telegraph

A source told the paper: “ITV is closest to signing a deal with Hulu which will have a level of exclusivity built into it. Hulu has been in talks with all the major British broadcasters but has made the most progress with ITV.

“It has offered each broadcaster the chance to take equity in the company in exchange for full-length programme rights.”

The report adds that while ITV’s catch-up service ITV Player will continue to show all of the broadcaster’s programming, Hulu will be the only third party website allowed to show certain programmes made by ITV Productions.

Hulu is attempting to fill the gap left in the market after Project Kangaroo was blocked by the Competition Commission earlier this year.

Since then, Microsoft has launched its own video player, which has had almost 170,000 views in its first two weeks.

Hulu is expected to launch in the UK in the early part of 2010.