Hulu is reportedly close to adding CBS as an important programming piece to its upcoming live streaming TV service.
According to the Wall Street Journal, CBS and Hulu are in talks to add CBS’s broadcast network and some cable channels to the bundle. CBS will reportedly pull in $3 per monthly subscriber from Hulu in exchange for granting access to its programming.
The deal will reportedly give Hulu access to CBS Sports Network, the Smithsonian Channel and the CW, which recently pulled its programming from Hulu’s on-demand service in order to offer in-season streaming on its own branded platforms.
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The announcement is expected to come today, according to the report, the same day which Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins is scheduled to speak at a Citi investor conference.
Hulu has already signed deals with Disney, 21st Century Fox and Time Warner for its upcoming live TV service.
“We’re building a service that offers subscribers the most sought-after programming on television—and channels from 21st Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company are essential to that mix,” said Mike Hopkins, CEO of Hulu, in a statement. “With these two new deals in place, and additional partners to come, Hulu will soon give TV fans of all ages live and on-demand access to their favorite programs in a whole new, more flexible, highly personalized way.”
But so far CBS had been an important holdout.
CBS has been linked to reports that it would be included in YouTube’s similar live TV offering. Meanwhile, CBS has still not joined DirecTV Now, the high-profile virtual MVPD launched late last year by AT&T.
But CBS CEO Les Moonves has indicated that a deal with DirecTV Now is forthcoming, once agreeable terms for both sides have been reached.