CNN and Hulu are broadening their content relationship and putting more CNN original productions on the streaming service.
According to Variety, the new agreement is the second deal for the CNN original series and the first deal for CNN Films. In all, the deal will bring six series and two films to Hulu. The films include Goldfish pictures co-production “9/11 Fifteen Years Later” and CNN original production “The End: Inside the Last Days of the Obama White House.”
Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent and content development at CNN Worldwide, told the publication that the deal not only monetizes CNN’s content, but also extends its lifetime.
Time Warner, which is the parent company of CNN, is also a minority shareholder in Hulu. Hulu is jointly owned by NBCUniversal, Disney and 21st Century Fox.
RELATED: CNN launching original content on its CNNgo platform
The plan to expand its original content deal with Hulu seems counterintuitive to CNN’s recent announcement that it would begin using its CNNGo platform as a home for its original content not airing on the CNN linear TV network.
In March, CNN announced that “Mostly Human,” a six-part, half-hour news series exploring people and technology, would be exclusive to the CNNGo platform.
Andrew Morse, executive VP of editorial for CNN U.S. and GM of CNN Digital Worldwide, told the publication that “Mostly Human” could have been sold to a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu and that it could still end up airing on CNN’s linear TV channel.
As CNN builds up its relationship with one platform currently in the virtual MVPD race, it’s on the outside looking in on another. YouTube TV launched around the same time as Hulu’s live TV service, but it doesn’t include Time Warner networks including CNN, TBS and TNT.
RELATED: Turner CEO says YouTube TV said 'no' to CNN, TBS, TNT
Turner CEO John Martin said that YouTube TV politely declined Turner’s offer to let the virtual MVPD carry its channels including CNN, TBS and TNT.
“We said, 'We would like you to carry us,' and they said, 'No,”" Martin told investors at the MoffettNathanson Media & Communications.