Viacom is returning popular comedy shows to online video service
Hulu in a deal that will also make other programs available to paying
subscribers.
Hulu and Viacom today announced a new content partnership that will
return "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report" to
Hulu.com and bring many popular TV shows from Viacom's media
networks, including Comedy Central, MTV, BET, VH1, Spike TV, and TV
Land to the Hulu Plus subscription service.
Under the agreement, current full episodes and clips of "The Daily
Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report" will be available on
the free ad-supported Hulu.com service and through the Hulu Plus
subscription service beginning February 2, 2011. In addition, Viacom
will make available to Hulu Plus subscribers a selection of current
programs, like Jersey Shore, Tosh.0, Teen Mom 2, Manswers, Let's Stay
Together, and Hot in Cleveland 21 days after they air. Viacom content
availability on Hulu Plus will vary on a show-by-show basis.
Additionally, Hulu Plus subscribers will have access to episodes of
programming from Viacom's library, including The Chappelle Show, Reno
911, Beavis & Butthead, Real World, Punk'd, Baldwin Hills and many
others on PCs, internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players, gaming
consoles, set-top boxes, mobile phones, and tablets (in HD when
available).
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Viacom had withdrawn the two shows from Hulu last year amid a series
of high-profile disputes over programming fees between broadcast
companies and the companies delivering the content.
Hulu officially launched its Hulu Plus subscription service in
November.