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Hulu Adding ESPN, Fox Sports Offerings To Streaming Service; Price Point Still TBD

Hulu yesterday announced it has "signed deals that will make networks like ABC, ESPN and Fox News a part of its forthcoming live streaming service," which is "expected to make its debut in early" '17, according to John Koblin of the N.Y. TIMES. Through the deal, Fox’ and Disney’s "collection of broadcast and cable channels -- both companies are part owners of Hulu -- will join the new service." Hulu "previously made a deal with Time Warner, which owns channels like TNT, TBS and CNN, and is also an owner." Hulu’s fourth owner, Comcast, which owns NBCSN and several RSNs, has "not reached an agreement to join the service" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/2). TECH CRUNCH's Sarah Perez noted in terms of sports, the two deals will include FS1 and FS2, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, SEC Network and Fox RSNs in "dozens of markets." The addition of ESPN is "especially notable, in light of the competitive landscape, which today includes Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, and AT&T’s forthcoming DirecTV Now service." In fact, Sling TV "made headway with a number of cord cutters when it first debuted as being the only way to access ESPN’s content without a subscription to a cable or satellite TV service" (TECHCRUNCH.com, 11/1). 

LET'S TALK PRICE: RE/CODE's Peter Kafka noted Hulu wants to sell the service for "about $40 a month," but "there’s no way that they’re going to fit all of those channels." Kafka: "So some of this stuff either won’t make the cut at all, or will be available in some kind of extra tier or tiers." Kafka noted Fox and Disney will "include some of their most essential channels" in the base Hulu package, and "then provide some of the others as add-ons" (RECODE.net, 11/1). 

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