ABC Will Join Hulu After All

Despite mixed signals, ABC will join NBC and Fox as an equity partner in Hulu, the fast-growing video site, where it plays to stream flagship series like Lost and Ugly Betty.

ABC’s decision to jump into Hulu, the No. 2 video site behind YouTube, leaves CBS as the lone holdout among the four major networks. The deal is in part an anti-piracy measure as the networks look for ways to rope consumers otherwise lost to illegal file-sharing services. Variety has the unannounced logistic and financial details.

Meanwhile, tsk-tsk Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke echoed antitrust concerns in her post about the deal, and Variety also mentions possible regulatory issues. As networks tackle the new-media landscape, however conservatively, how much backstage wrangling can be overlooked? Given widespread enthusiasm about Hulu as a rare nod toward the future among networks, it’s likely to become a contentious question.

That said, most observers believe that Hulu isn’t even profitable yet, so its future is unclear from other perspectives as well.

Related links:
News: Disney to show ABC, ESPN videos on YouTube
News: Disney inches toward deal with Hulu
List of the Day: Kill Your Television: Six Great Things to Watch on Hulu.com

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.