Online streaming service Hulu has licensed three shows popular in the U.K. that haven’t been on television in the U.S.
Hulu will announce Monday that it will slowly roll out episodes of Misfits, Whites and The Booth at the End to both its premium subscribers and to its free users who watch content with ads.
Hulu, owned by NBC Universal, Disney, News Corp. and Providence Equity Partners, said it acquired rights to the content “through exclusive first-run, multi-year distribution deals.”
Misfits was produced by Clerkenwell Films and distributed by BBC Worldwide. Hulu says the show should appeal to fans of Heroes and Flash Forward and is about five teenagers sentenced to community service. When an electrical storm hits, they each obtain a superpower that reveals their insecurities.
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“It gets you early and makes you want to tell your friends about it,” said Andy Fossell, senior vp of content acquisition and distribution at Hulu.
Hulu will premier Misfits on June 20 while The Booth at the End will debut July 11 and Whites on July 20.
The Booth at the End takes place mostly in a diner where a man with a mystery gift hangs out. Folks in need can strike unusual deals with the man, but they always come with major consequences attached.
The psychological thriller was produced by Vuguru and Hulu says it should appeal to fans of Lost, 24 and The X-Files.
Whites was produced by BBC and distributed by Content Media Corp., and Hulu says it ought to attract fans of The Office and Kitchen Nightmares. It’s a comedy about a talented but lazy chef.
Hulu is one of the major players streaming premium content through the Internet, though it lags Netflix by a significant margin. Fossell said Hulu is on track to hit its forecast of 1 million subscribers who pay $7.99 apiece monthly by year’s end.
