Hulu has caught a big fish.
The streamer has landed SVOD rights to NBC’s breakout drama This Is Us in what is said to be a record-breaking deal.
With Netflix and Amazon also bidding, Dan Fogelman’s time-jumping family drama landed at the streamer with a massive per-episode fee.
With the deal, Hulu and NBC will share co-exclusive rights to the digital rollout of the Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore series. Hulu subscribers and NBC viewers who authenticate their MVPD can view episodes on Hulu and various applications and websites on both NBC and the network’s on-demand providers. The deal is for all current and past seasons of the 2016-17 broadcast season’s No. 1 new series.
Hulu and NBC will share stacking rights so that the series is available on both the streamer as well as the network’s apps and platform in a first-of-its-kind deal. Typically, only the network gets current season stacking and the SVOD home gets the library. This pact will see NBC retain both library and current episodes for its digital platforms. Meaning both NBC and Hulu will have every episode of the series available online, making it easier for viewers to find the series on nonlinear platforms.
”Dan Fogelman’s This Is Us is an extraordinary series that grew in viewership throughout its acclaimed first season, and we think it has the potential to expand its audience even further,” said Fox Television Group chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman. “This groundbreaking deal offers unprecedented access to consumers on multiple platforms, from Hulu to the apps of our network partner NBC, creating opportunity for viewers to find, catch up and experience again every incredible episode. It’s an exciting deal which is a ‘win’ for all our companies but for fans of this fantastic television show most of all.”
“It was important to NBC that This Is Us be accessible to as many rabid fans as possible as it continues to grow,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt. “We’re extremely pleased that this combination of platforms — Hulu and the apps of both NBC and (authenticated) on-demand providers — makes all episodes available in a way that hasn’t been done before. This deal sets a new precedent, and we’re thrilled that our partners at Fox and Hulu had the same goals in mind.”
The deal, which was weeks in the making, was formally announced onstage at
Hulu’s NewFronts presentation. Other news announced Wednesday included
SVOD rights to FX’s
Atlanta as well as a renewal for
The Handmaid’s Tale, series pickups for Marvel’s
Runaways and a space drama from
House of Cards creator Beau
Willimon.
The news comes as Hulu is looking to make a larger impression culturally and break out from the arts and entertainment pages with more culturally relevant programming.
