Hulu emerged as one of the earliest and most influential OTT platforms in the United States, offering a wide library of movies, TV shows, originals, and live TV channels. Designed as a hybrid subscription and ad-supported streaming service, Hulu became a critical bridge between traditional television and digital-first entertainment consumption. Its offering spans on-demand series, next-day TV episodes, sports, news, and exclusive originals that helped redefine viewer expectations. With seamless availability across mobile, web, and smart TV ecosystems, Hulu established itself as a major player in the global streaming landscape, eventually becoming a core pillar of Disney’s direct-to-consumer strategy.
What Is Hulu and What Does It Do?
Hulu, founded in 2007 by Jason Kilar, is a Santa Monica–based (United States) subscription OTT streaming platform offering movies, TV series, live sports, news, and on-demand entertainment across devices. It serves millions of users through a hybrid model combining subscription tiers with advertisements and premium add-ons.
Hulu employs over 2,157 people, delivering curated libraries of original content, network programs, and partner studios.
Its platform provides cross-device streaming, next-day TV episodes, live TV, cloud DVR, and premium integrations like HBO and Showtime. Hulu has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern OTT ecosystem with data-driven personalization, ad-tech innovation, and extensive content licensing.
How Much Funding Has Hulu Raised?
1. Series A
- Amount Raised: $100M
- Date: August 01, 2007
- Lead Investors: Providence Equity Partners
- Motivation: Launch the platform, acquire content rights, and build foundational streaming infrastructure.
Total Funding Raised: $100M
Current Valuation: $27.5B (as of May 2019)
Latest Funding Date: April 2009
Key Investors
1. Providence Equity Partners
- Details: Global private equity firm known for large-scale media and entertainment investments.
- Investment Focus Areas: Media, telecom, technology.
- Notable Investments: Hulu, Univision, AutoDesk, AT&T Canada, OUTFRONT Media.
2. The Walt Disney Company
- Details: One of the world’s largest entertainment conglomerates; later became Hulu’s majority owner.
- Investment Focus Areas: Media, streaming, content production, entertainment IP.
- Notable Investments: Hulu, Disney+, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm.
3. Comcast (via partnership)
- Details: Media and telecom giant involved through strategic distribution and content partnerships.
- Investment Focus Areas: Broadband, streaming, entertainment, media networks.
- Notable Investments: Sky Group, NBCUniversal, Fandango, DreamWorks Animation.
4. Fox (early stakeholder)
- Details: Major contributor through content rights and early structural support.
- Investment Focus Areas: Media, broadcasting, film production.
- Notable Investments: Hulu, STAR India, 20th Century Fox assets.
5. NBCUniversal (strategic partner)
- Details: Multimedia corporation engaged via content licensing and ownership during Hulu’s formative years.
- Investment Focus Areas: Streaming, film, TV, entertainment platforms.
- Notable Investments: Peacock, Fandango, Sky, Hulu.
Where Is Hulu’s Headquarters?
Hulu is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, a thriving hub for entertainment, media technology, production studios, and OTT innovation. Its presence in the LA tech corridor supports deep partnerships with content creators, advertisers, and major networks while enabling rapid scaling of streaming operations.
What’s Next for Hulu?
Hulu’s future centers on deeper integration within Disney’s streaming ecosystem. The platform is expected to merge more tightly with Disney+ through unified apps and cross-platform profiles, offering a broader library to subscribers. Hulu will continue expanding premium originals, enhancing ad-tech capabilities, and strengthening live TV offerings as cord-cutting accelerates. With ongoing investment in personalization, cloud infrastructure, and global distribution, Hulu is positioned to stay competitive in an increasingly consolidated streaming market.
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