The CW Shows Headed for Hulu

BURBANK: Hulu has secured a five-year agreement with The CW for the rights to stream in-season episodes of the channel’s series such as Ringer, Hart of Dixie and Gossip Girl.

Hulu Plus will be the only online subscription service to offer in-season episodes from The CW, with the five most recent episodes of each show available to subscribers the next day after their linear broadcast. Users of the free, ad-supported service will be able to watch five episodes of current programming eight days after broadcast. Later this year, programming for both Hulu and Hulu Plus will begin with the nine series from The CW’s fall schedule: Ringer, Hart of Dixie, The Secret Circle, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, Nikita, 90210 and America’s Next Top Model.

“Our new arrangement with Hulu only affirms the incredible value of The CW’s series, as well as amplifying the immense power of the broadcast network model,” said Mark Pedowitz, the president of The CW. “As we increase the amount of year round original programming on The CW, this deal provides our shows with greater exposure on a new platform, helping build even more awareness that will drive viewers back to the network and its affiliates. We see this as a win for everyone involved, the network, the stations, Hulu and ultimately, the viewers.”

“The CW programming is a great example of the kind of in-season content we want to make available on our service—high-quality, engaging, serialized shows that fans passionately love,” added Andy Forssell, the senior VP of content for Hulu. “Making these shows available on Hulu and Hulu Plus will allow new and existing fans to get their fix of The CW’s great shows anytime and anywhere."