Splicetoday

Digital
May 01, 2009, 07:21AM

Disney Makes a Sweet Deal

ABC takes the advantage over FOX and NBC.

Disney announced earlier today that it intends to acquire an approximate 30 percent stake in Hulu, the online video site launched by NBC/Universal and Fox network owner News Corp, a move that will let Hulu users watch full-length ABC TV shows for free.

The move, though not unexpected, marks a victory for Disney and its ABC television programming: Not only does the deal erase NBC’s and Fox’s early-mover advantage over ABC, but Disney’s Hulu deal appears a bit sweeter than those of the other networks because it requires them to make only certain episodes from a series available on Hulu at any given time. The first taste may be at Hulu, but the full meal will still be on Disney-controlled real estate.

“It’s a far better deal than than expected for ABC than it is for NBC and Fox,” Screen Digest senior analyst Arash Amel told wired.com. “You might get a couple of episodes on Hulu, but the entire back catalog is in the ABC full episode player, and then Hulu just redirects you back to ABC,” added Amel. “Disney likes to hold onto control where it can.”

Soon-to-be added series include Desperate Housewives, General Hospital, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost,  Scrubs, Ugly Betty, and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

The deal  puts Disney content on a wildly popular destination site where it will capture new eyeballs those who expect to have content to come to them — not to have to chase it down at multiple sites.

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