It seems more and more likely that Disney is going to fully own Hulu. It just comes down to price. Speaking Tuesday at MoffettNathanson’s Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in New York, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts addressed Comcast selling its 33% stake in the streamer. “I think it’s more likely than not,” Roberts said.
Deal covers 122 TV stations, including MyNetworkTV affiliates and four independents. The agreement also renews carriage of the company’s NewsNation cable news network.
Hulu has expanded the duties for Barrie Gruner, the EVP of marketing. She will assume oversight of brand marketing, while continuing to shepherd content marketing. Gruner first joined the streamer in 2013 as a VP, originals marketing and publicity. As part of the Hulu reorganization, Scott Donaton will leave his post as SVP marketing. Donaton joined the streamer in 2019 from ad agency Digitas, where he was chief content and creative officer.
For over a month now, Sinclair-owned ABC affiliates have been dark on Hulu. On Friday night Hulu started to add them back. This news comes as blackouts have become more common both on cable TV and streaming services over the last few months. Sinclair said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement in principle with Hulu, which has our ABC stations returning to Hulu.”
Grand Knighthawk: Infiltrating the KKK, produced by George Stephanopoulos Productions and ABC News Studios, premieres on Hulu Thursday, April 27.
The highly secretive spec script from Fogelman quietly went to senior level executives at 20th Television and Hulu and was picked up to series.