BBC Worldwide has become the first British distributor to license content to Hulu in Japan. The multiple year agreement will initially see around 600 hours of BBC Worldwide programming made available on the multi-device platform from 17th February 2012.
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The deal represents the largest volume of BBC Worldwide content on any platform in Japan, with titles licensed across drama, comedy, music, lifestyle, natural history, science and history, including Doctor Who, Spooks, Little Britain, Walking with Dinosaurs, Top Gear and Life. Hulu subscribers in Japan will also be able to watch premieres of Polar Bear – Spy on the Ice (feature length version), and the Absolutely Fabulous 20th Anniversary Specials, available for the first time to Japanese viewers as part of the deal.
“We’re excited to be expanding our business in the Japanese digital sector by becoming the first British distributor to partner with Hulu in Japan,” said Joyce Yeung, General Manager and Senior Vice President for BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution Asia. “Hulu’s versatile service opens up a new audience for our catalogue, which covers everything from entertainment formats and international drama productions, to cutting-edge science documentaries and world-renowned natural history titles.”
“Our goal is to bring Japanese entertainment fans unlimited streaming access to the world’s premium content whenever and wherever they want to watch. The BBC is home to some of the most premium content on the planet, and we are thrilled to make these programmes available to Hulu subscribers,” said Kazufumi Nagasawa, Head of Content Acquisition for Hulu in Japan.
Hulu Japan launched in September 2011, marking the first expansion of Hulu outside of the US. The service allows Japanese consumers to watch unlimited content on multiple internet connected devices.
For more information, please contact:
Ben Nolan
Communications Officer, Content & Production / Sales & Distribution, BBC Worldwide
Tel: +44 (0)20 8433 3862
Email: ben.nolan@bbc.com
Twitter: @BenNolan78
NOTES TO EDITORS
BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has six core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products, Brands, Consumers & New Ventures and Magazines, with digital ventures incorporated into each business area. In 2010/11, BBC Worldwide generated profits of £160 million on sales of £1158 million and returned £182m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview
bbcworldwide.com
twitter.com/bbcwpress
BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution
BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution is responsible for licensing programmes to customers around the world on behalf of the BBC and independent production companies. As the largest exporter of finished television programmes outside of the US studios, this business manages a catalogue of around 50,000 hours spanning all genres. It runs BBC Showcase, the world’s biggest programme trade fair organised by a single distributor and is also responsible for developing and sourcing funding and partners for international co-productions. In 2010/11, Sales & Distribution generated gross profits of £64 million on gross sales of £260.6 million.
About Hulu
Hulu is an online TV service whose mission is to help people find and enjoy the world's premium content when, where and how they want it. As we pursue this mission, we aspire to create a service that users, advertisers and content owners unabashedly love. Hulu was founded in 2007 and is operated independently by a dedicated team with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Tokyo and Beijing. NBCUniversal, News Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, Providence Equity Partners, and the Hulu team share in the ownership of the company. (www.hulu.com)
Our goal is to bring Japanese entertainment fans unlimited streaming access to the world’s premium content whenever and wherever they want to watch. The BBC is home to some of the most premium content on the planet, and we are thrilled to make these programmes available to Hulu subscribers,”
