Hulu might not have a new owner yet , however does have a global presence now that it launched a subscription service in Japan today . Hulu.jp brings “hundreds of premium feature films and thousands of episodes of popular TV shows” to bear, for ¥1,480 monthly ($19.19 US). The service is seems to be bringing an American flavor to the island, with film selections like Pirates of the Caribbean, Armageddon and Men in Black and television shows including Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, Fringe and Grey’s Anatomy. Overall the list looks more like Netflix than Hulu’s free or Plus services inside the US do. To this point Japanese users can stream the content on to Panasonic TVs, iOS and choose Android devices, with Panasonic Blu-ray players, Sony Blu-ray players and TVs, Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles and Android tablets all relegated to the “coming soon” list. Check the click release after the break for an entire list of content providers signed up up to now or simply hit the source link to check out out a free month so that you can decide even if it’s worth your yen.
Launch Marks First International Marketplace for Hulu
LA & TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Hulu officially launched a brand new subscription service in Japan, a move that marks the primary international expansion for the corporate. Starting at launch and within the weeks following, Hulu’s first-of-its-kind service will offer entertainment fans in Japan unlimited instant access to hundreds of premium feature films like Pirates of the Caribbean, Armageddon, Men in Black, Troy, and Pretty much as good Because it Gets and more; and thousands of episodes from previous seasons of TV shows including 24, Bones, Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, Fringe, Grey’s Anatomy, Gossip Girl, Heroes, LOST, NCIS, Private Practice, Prison Break and unsightly Betty and more. Subscribers can be ready to instantly access these shows and films on demand on a wide selection of internet connected devices including connected TVs, PCs, tablets and smartphones, without advertising, for ¥1,480 per 30 days.
“Since launching Hulu in 2008 within the U.S., we’ve got been working hard to bring our service to consumers outside our home market and become a worldwide brand. Today, we’re taking a primary, but important step to make good on our aspiration to serve customers world wide”
“Since launching Hulu in 2008 inside the U.S., we now have been working hard to bring our service to consumers outside our home market and become a worldwide brand. Today, we’re taking a primary, but important step to make good on our aspiration to serve customers worldwide,” said Johannes Larcher, SVP of International for Hulu.
For the launch of the subscription service in Japan, Hulu has secured licensing deals with top film studios and television networks including CBS, NBCUniversal International Television Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company (Japan) featuring content from Disney/ABC Television Group and The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Additional content could be rapidly and continually added to the service, including Japanese-produced content and content from around the Asian region.
With the launch of Hulu in Japan, subscribers might be in a position to instantly watch thousands of U.S. TV episodes and hundreds of feature films on internet connected front room devices including TVs, Blu-ray players, and gaming and entertainment consoles, in addition to PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Regardless of when and where an entertainment fan desires to watch popular TV shows and movies – whether it’s within the office, inside the front room, or at the go – Hulu might be there:
Connected TVs and Blu-ray players: Panasonic VIERA TVs; and coming soon: Panasonic DIGA Blu-ray recorders, and Sony’s BRAVIA® HDTVs and connected Blu-ray Disc™ Players.
Gaming and Entertainment Consoles: Coming soon: Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation®3, and Microsoft’s Xbox 360®.
Smartphones, Tablets and other Mobile Devices: Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, select Android phones from Fujitsu, HTC, NEC, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp and Sony Ericsson; and coming soon: select Android tablets.
Just like the U.S. service, the Hulu service in Japan is discreet and straightforward to exploit. Accounts travel with the user from device to device – seamlessly moving from TV to PC to cellphone. Subscribers can start watching a show on their phone, and finish watching it on their internet connected TV.
For the launch, Hulu has entered into an exclusive mobile marketing partnership with Japan’s largest mobile network, NTT Docomo. Details of this relationship might be unveiled shortly. Subscribers in Japan shall be capable of use Hulu on any mobile carrier or internet corporation on supported devices. There are not any long-term contract and no minimum subscription commitments.
Hulu is offering Japanese users one free month to attempt the Hulu subscription service. Entertainment fans in Japan can visit www.hulu.jp to subscribe.
About Hulu
Hulu is a web-based TV service whose mission is to aid people find and revel in the world’s premium content when, where and the way they need 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 La, Manhattan, Chicago, Seattle, Tokyo and Beijing. NBCUniversal, News Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, Providence Equity Partners, and the Hulu team share inside the ownership of the corporate (www.hulu.com).
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