CBS Signs Library Streaming Deal with Hulu

LOS ANGELES: CBS Corporation and Hulu have entered into a non-exclusive, multi-year licensing deal that adds a selection of library shows to the Hulu Plus subscription service.

The deal takes effect from January 2013. It brings to the service such classic shows as Star Trek, I Love Lucy and The Twilight Zone, alongside library content such as Medium, Numb3rs and CSI: Miami. A number of CBS library titles will also rotate through the free Hulu.com service.

CBS and Hulu have previously signed agreements for CBS-produced programming that airs on The CW and for CBS content on Hulu’s subscription service in Japan.

“We’re excited to deliver CBS library programming to Hulu Plus subscribers,” said Scott Koondel, the senior VP of corporate licensing at CBS Corporation. “This marks another agreement that meets the growing demand for our content on new platforms while establishing other incremental ways to get paid for our library.”

Andy Forssell, the senior VP of content for Hulu, added, “CBS has a long history of producing truly great TV. Hulu Plus subscribers are entertainment lovers who spend their time watching shows they love, versus shows they might only just like. Those two facts make for a fantastic combination, because this collection of CBS titles are shows that people revere and that really matter to fans of great TV like our subscribers.”