Sony Corporation

Posted on October 16, 2016 by crtraver

Charlotte Traver, Brendan Weaver, David Sorokanich

Sony Entertainment Logo [15]

Company

Located in New York, NY, Sony Corporation of America is the US headquarters of Sony Corporation, which is based in Tokyo, Japan. Sony is involved in multiple businesses including electronics and mobile, film and television, music, gaming, digital services, and others. Sony employs about 125, 300 people and recorded annual sales of $71.7 billion of the fiscal year ending in March 2016.

Background

Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio/video electronics and products. Sony Mobile is also a leading company in providing video, game, audio and communications technology products. Sony Pictures Entertainment is a huge innovator in major motion picture production and produces major blockbusters regularly. Sony Music Entertainment is one of the most well-known global recorded music companies and features artists famous on both a local and international scale. Sony/ATV Music Publishing works alongside Sony Music Entertainment and is the world’s leading music publisher. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC is known for the PlayStation, a popular gaming console owned by millions of Americans. Other businesses that may not be as well known include Sony DADC, Sony Biotechnology Inc., Micronics, Inc., and Sony Card/Sony Rewards. [7]

Sony Pictures Executives

CEO of Sony Entertainment where he oversees the Sony’s global enterprise including Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Michael Lynton: CEO of Sony Entertainment where he oversees the Sony’s global enterprise including Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing [18]

Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Sony Pictures Entertainment he oversees the company’s financial affairs and development

Philip Rowley: Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Sony Pictures Entertainment he oversees the company’s financial affairs and development [18]

Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment responsible for the distribution and implementation of Sony Pictures Entertainment communications

Robert Lawson: Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment responsible for the distribution and implementation of Sony Pictures Entertainment communications [18]

Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Pictures Group in which he oversees the production and distribution of all Sony films

Tom Rothman: Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Pictures Group in which he oversees the production and distribution of all Sony films [18]

Senior Executive Vice President & General Counsel for Sony Pictures Entertainment and is the highest ranking legal consultant for Sony and is head of its law department

Leah Weil: Senior Executive Vice President & General Counsel for Sony Pictures Entertainment and is the highest ranking legal consultant for Sony and is head of its law department [18]

Sony Entertainment Financials

Screenshot of MarketWatch Report on Sony Corp. Stocks on Nov. 29, 2016 [13]

Sony Entertainment’s 2016 Q2 Earnings, which were finalized on September 30, 2016, show a 10.8% decrease in Sales and Operating Revenue compared to 2015’s Q2. Q2 is also showing a 45.7% decrease in Operating Income, a 40.5% decrease in Income before Income Taxes, and a 4.8% decrease in Sony Entertainment net income attributed to stockholders. These are all in comparison to the success Sony Entertainment showed in Q2 of 2015. [12] Furthermore, as of November 29, 2016, Sony Entertainment stock prices are at $29.49 per share. This is much lower in comparison to the past three months in which shares were at a high of $34.17. [13]

Sony Launches China Writers Initiative

On November 1, 2016, Sony Pictures Entertainment launched a China Writers Initiative, which will allow emerging and well-known writers from China access to the studios. Writers will be able to work with Hollywood film and television executives and screenwriters to collaborate on ideas for both Hollywood and Hollywood Chinese productions. The program was developed with Sony Pictures China and is intended to be a mutually educational program for both countries involved. Sony Pictures will select four writers at a time to travel to Los Angeles and work at the Sony Pictures Studios. A finalist will then be selected and able to produce their chosen project. [6]

Sony Dives into Virtual Reality

Sony Interactive Entertainment of America has been on the forefront of virtual reality technology and has just recently made VR accessible for all. With the release of the PlayStation VR in October 2016, virtual reality is available for all gamers who wish to take gaming to a new level. Virtual reality takes players into an immersive atmosphere never experienced before, one in which players are in the game themselves and experience something entirely different from traditional gaming. The release of the PlayStation VR included 30 games, but Sony Interactive Entertainment predicts that the PlayStation VR will have 50 games by the end of the year. President Shawn Layden of Sony Interactive Entertainment commented that virtual reality brings a “new medium into the homes of PS4 fans”. Sony Interactive Entertainment hopes that virtual reality will soon enter the homes of many average Americans, as more and more interactive experiences independent of gaming are released. A variety of VR experiences such as Hulu, Allumette, Invasion! and others will soon offer their own interactive experiences. [9]

[11]

Sony’s PlayStation VR outsold other virtual reality headsets released in 2016, including the HTC Vive and Facebook’s Oculus Rift. The PlayStation VR is predicted to outsell both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift by more than 295,000 headsets, which is largely due to price. The PlayStation VR is a simple add on to the PlayStation 4, so users find this headset to be a better choice since many already own the console. However, SuperData Research’s director of research Stephanie Llamas seems to think that without a push in marketing from Sony, they will forever remain behind their potential.

-Is 2016 The Year Virtual Reality Finally Goes Mainstream? by NPR [14]

New Chairman and CEO of Sony Music

Michael Lynton, CEO of Sony Entertainment, announced that Doug Morris will transition from operational management of Sony Music Entertainment and assume the role of Chairman in April 2017, and Rob Stringer, who was formerly Chairman and CEO of Columbia Records, will become CEO of Sony Music. Over the last six years as CEO, Morris has increased Sony Music’s market share and profitability. This has helped Sony achieve its status as the second largest music company in the world. He has also helped Sony reach its impressive status by initiating partnerships with record labels, extending a joint venture deal with Syco Entertainment, and by supporting the growth and development of Vevo, which he founded with Eric Schmidt in 2009. [4]

Rob Stringer, new CEO of Sony Music [17]

New Bob Dylan releases from Sony Music

A massive 36CD box set of Bob Dylan’s 1966 concert tours of the US, UK, Europe, and Australia was released on November 11 by Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment. The box set, “The 1966 Live Recordings”, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the live performances. The recordings are drawn from three main sources: soundboards, CBS Records mobile recordings, and audience tapes. The majority of the recordings are previously unreleased in any format and are being made available for the first time ever. [10]

Sony Pictures Classics Acquires The Comedian

Sony Pictures Classics has announced that they’ve acquired North American rights to Taylor Hackford’s comedy, THE COMEDIAN, starring Robert De Niro and Danny DeVito. Written by Art Linson, the film centers around an aging comic whose attempts to reinvent himself fail to impress an audience that only wants to know him as a former television character he played. Warner Bros. International will be handling foreign distribution of the film, under its deal with Cinelou.[2]

Sony Pictures Acquires TEN Sports From ZEE

Sony Pictures have entered into agreements to acquire TEN Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited for 385 million dollars. The acquisition will add South Asia’s leading sports network to SPN’s portfolio of channels. Ten Sports holds broadcast rights to wrestling, cricket, football, golf, motorsports, and cycling events. SPN comprises Sony Entertainment Television, one of India’s leading Hindi general entertainment television channels.[5]

Sony has acquired TEN Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises [16]

Sony and Multi-Deal International

In its commitment to broaden its global presence and its support of local language productions, Sony Pictures International Productions has signed a multi-picture development deal with filmmakers Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman. The deal will allow Mexico and LA-based Cisneros and Shuman to write and produce three new films. Cisneros is one of the most successful writers in the Latin American film industry, with successes such as Instructions Not Included and Familia P. Luche. In 2014, Cisneros and Shuman began collaborating, writing the FOX feature comedy “Upgrade.” [3]

Sony Recognized as a Leader in Combating Climate Change

For the second year, Sony has been recognized as one of the highest performing companies on the CDP Japan 500 Climate Change Report 2016. CDP surveyed over 5,500 companies globally to compile their list. Their inclusion in the list recognizes the company’s effort to reduce the energy consumption of its manufactured products, curb greenhouse gas emissions at its operating sites, and accelerate use of renewable energy. Sony is one of 193 companies worldwide to be ranked as an “A” company, a distinction it has achieved for 2 consecutive years. [1]

Actions Sony has taken to combat climate change [19]

Works Cited

Sony Recognized as a Leader in Combating Climate Change in the CDP Japan 500 Climate Change Report 2016 for 2nd Consecutive Year. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES CINELOU’S THE COMEDIAN. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
SONY PICTURES INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS SIGNS MULTI-PICTURE DEVELOPMENT DEAL WITH EDUARDO CISNEROS AND JASON SHUMAN. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
ROB STRINGER PROMOTED TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
Sony Pictures To Acquire TEN Sports From ZEE. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT MOTION PICTURE GROUP LAUNCHES CHINA WRITERS INITIATIVE. Sony Pictures. Retrieved: November 28, 2016.
Who We Are. Sony.com. Retrieved: November 29, 2016.
Company News. Sony.com. Retrieved: November 27, 2016.
Gilbert, Ben (November 29, 2016). PlayStation is on track to crush Facebook and HTC in the first year of VR sales. Business Insider. Retrieved: November 28, 2016.
Columbia/Legacy Set to Release Bob Dylan: The 1966 Live Recordings, A Monumental Box Set featuring Every Known Recording from the Artist’s Mythic and Controversial 1966 Tour of the US, UK, Europe and Australia. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
PlayStation VR – Games Preview Summer 2016 | PSVR. Youtube.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
Sony Corporation 2016 Q2 Report. Retrieved November 26, 2016. https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/library/fr/16q2_sony.pdf
MarketWatch Reports on Sony Corporation Stocks. Retrieved November 29, 2016. http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/sne/profile
NPR on Virtual Reality. Retrieved November 25, 2016. http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/12/30/461432244/is-2016-the-year-virtual-reality-finally-goes-mainstream
Sony Entertainment Logo. Retrieved November 27, 2016. https://www.sony.co.uk
Ten Sports Logo. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/44872_Ten-Sports-unveils-new-network-logo
Rob Stringer Photo. Retrieved November 29, 2016. https://www.sonymusic.com/executives/rob-stringer/
Sony Management Team. Retrieved November 29, 2019. http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/management.html
Sony CRS Reporting. Retrieved November 29, 2016. https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/csr_report/environment/

YouTube

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Kyle Desiderio

Youtube Logo [1]

The Founders

Co-Founder: Chad Hurley [8]

Co-Founder: Steve Chen [9]

Co-Founder: Jawed Karim [10]

Current Key Executives

YouTube CEO: Susan Wojciki [2]

YouTube Chief Business Officer: Robert Kyncl [3]

YouTube Overview & History

Google Acquired YouTube in late 2006 [7]

YouTube is a worldwide video sharing company, which was launched in April 14, 2005 by three former PayPal employees [4]. Soon after their launch, Google purchased the company for $1.65 billion, making it the most expensive acquisition for Google at that time [5]. YouTube now operates as a subsidiary of Google. Since it’s launch, YouTube popularity has skyrocketed, serving as the premier destination to post videos, and creating a network of channels with a significantly easier barrier of entry compared to more established mediums. Youtube has positioned itself as a significant competitor to traditional media, with the coveted 18-49 year-old market accessing YouTube’s mobile site than any cable television network [6]. Many established networks and personalities now use YouTube as an extension to reach a much wider audience, such as The Ellen Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. With YouTube’s massive popularity, especially with the younger demographic, much of the company’s recent actions focus on profiting on their large user base.

Finances

Google's Stock plummeted after its Q1 Earnings Report [14]

Google’s Stock plummeted after its Q1 Earnings Report in mid April [14]

While Google is a publicly traded company, it is unclear what effect YouTube has on their stocks. Google has never released the earnings of YouTube and many have speculated that the web service has focused on building a strong user base rather than creating a profit [11]. Despite YouTube announcing it’s paid subscription plan, YouTube Red, a vast majority of YouTube’s revenue comes from advertisements, taking 45% of profits from every video allowing ads [12]. However, within the past few months, Google’s stock (now known as Alphabet, but still retaining the GOOG stock market tag) has fluctuated wildly especially with the April release of their First Quarter 2016 results, reporting a disappointing net income of $5.25 billion [13]. These earnings were more than $310 million less than average expectations, causing nearly a 5% drop in stock within 24 hours of the earnings release. Much of this can be attributed to spending that increased nearly 27%, focusing on improving YouTube’s servers and content acquisition for YouTube Red that was released in February 2016 [14]. While these numbers might be disappointing, the company seems to be doubling-down on its approach to attract viewers now, and worry about profits later, and it does seem unlikely that this will have a lasting effect on Google’s entire stock.

YouTube Red

YouTube Red, announced in late 2015, was the company’s attempt to launch into the paid subscription market. For $9.99/month users are able to view videos without advertisements, download videos, receive a free subscription to Google Music, and gain exclusive content [15]. While there was some controversy, YouTube released the first round of their exclusive content, to very mixed results, in February 10, 2016.

A Trip To Unicorn Island

Lilly Singh stars in YouTube’s first documentary [31]

YouTube Red’s first documentary, A Trip to Unicorn Island focuses on YouTube star Lily Singh and is produced by Astronauts Wanted. The piece focuses on Singh, holder of the YouTube account ||SuperWoman|| with more than 8 million subscribers, during her first worldwide tour [16]. The documentary is clearly targeted at her tween fanbase as she delves into her struggle with depression and preaches self-acceptance. However, mainstream media has given the piece little to no attention and currently holds a 4.2 rating on IMDb [17].

Dance Camp

Taking from the success of made-for-tv Disney films such as High School Musical, Dance Camp is a teen musical featuring songs created by YouTubers themselves [18]. Similarly to A Trip to Unicorn Island, YouTube’s first foray into the musical world has received essentially no professional press, as has user reviews hovering around 3.5 [19].

Scare PewDiePie

Scare PewDiePie features YouTube’s most subscribed user [32]

This web series centers the most subscribed YouTuber, Felix Kjellberg, otherwise known as PewDiePie, as he navigates different sets inspired off popular horror video games. The show format mimics what made his channel so popular; commentating and screaming the more terrified he becomes. His name popularity seems to have garnered some of the most press as well, with episode seven offered to the public for free amassing nearly 24 million views [20].

Lazer Team

Lazer Team, created by Rooster Teeth, is the most traditional offering in YouTube Red’s launch. [33]

The most “traditional” offering of YouTube Red is Rooster Teeth‘s Lazer Team, which prior to appearing on Red’s lineup received an actual theatrical release in late January [21]. The film created notoriety in the Summer of 2014 when it received nearly $2.5 million in a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo [22]. The internet company Rooster Teeth has had a very close relationship with YouTube over the company’s life cycle, so it isn’t surprising that the sci-fi movie was brought to YouTube instead of a more traditional physical DVD release. The movie also brings some credibility to the subscription service, since it is the only content to receive enough professional reviews to warrant a Metacritic score, receiving “mixed or average reviews” with a 42% [23].

The Future

While YouTube Red’s offerings have received very mixed critical reception, the company has plans to release much more content within 2016. This new content seems to branch out into new demographics, while still maintaining headlining YouTube stars such as Bad Internet written by College Humor and reality show Prank Academy starring PrankVsPrank, which was just began releasing episodes in April [24]. Much of this content targets YouTube’s very young demographic, and while it might attract viewers, it still remains to be seen if they have the capital to spend $10 every month for YouTube Red, especially when Netflix and Hulu‘s offerings seem to be much more well-received.

Live and 360 Video

YouTube Gaming was launched to directly combat video game live-streaming from Twitch.tv [34]

Despite the fact that YouTube has had a chokehold in streaming archived video, the company has fallen behind in the live-streaming market. Streaming services such as Twitch, Periscope, and even Facebook Live might not necessarily have the numbers that YouTube does, but it has left YouTube with a significantly smaller portion of that market. To combat this, YouTube released YouTube Gaming in August 2015 to combat Twitch, and continues to expand into the live video world [25]. According to a report by VentureBeat, Google might soon be entering the mobile market as well with an app called YouTube Connect, which would directly combat the popularity of Periscope [26]. YouTube was also the host of the first live-streamed event in the 2016 election cycle, with stars interviewing candidates live onto the website [27].

On April 18, YouTube also announced that it would combine live streaming with some of its newest technology: 360 degree video [28]. The company also announced that it would immediately begin to introduce spatial sound recognition into it’s 360 video, creating a more immersive sound experience. The effect of this announcement was released to the public during Coachella 2016, where artists such as Matt & Kim and Open the Gates was live-streamed to the public with 360 degree video [29].

As the cost of producing 360 degree-quality videos has reduced in price, YouTube has put capable cameras in all of their creative studios, allowing use for all YouTube content creators [30]. While the effects of this announcement are already being felt, this could also have massive implications for the virtual reality world, where live-streaming has never been compatible with the new technology, but now could be when paired with Google’s own Google Cardboard VR device.

Works Cited

[1] YouTube Logo. Digital image. YouTube. Google, n.d. Web.

[2] Susan Wojciki. Digital image. Twitter. Twitter, n.d. Web.

[3] Robert Kyncl. Digital image. Twitter. Twitter, n.d. Web.

[4] Hopkins, Jim. “Surprise! There’s a Third YouTube Co-founder.” USA Today. N.p., 11 Oct. 2006. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[5] Associated Press. “Google Buys YouTube for $1.65 Billion.” NBC News. N.p., 10 Oct. 2006. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[6] Google. “YouTube Statistics.” YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[7] Google Logo. Digital image. Crunch Base, n.d. Web.

[8] Chad Hurley. Digital image. Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web.

[9] Steve Chen. Digital image. Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web.

[10] Jawed Karim. Digital image. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, n.d. Web.

[11] Oreskovic, Alexei. “How Much Money Does YouTube Make? Don’t Ask the New CFO.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 16 July 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[12] Edwards, Jim. “The Biggest Stars on YouTube Make Huge Incomes … Yet They Can’t Keep the Vast Majority of It.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 03 Aug. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[13] “Alphabet Investor Relations.” Alphabet Investor Relations. Alphabet, Inc., 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[14] Owens, Jeremy. “Google’s Big Plans for YouTube and Cloud Lead to Big Spending.” MarketWatch. N.p., 22 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016

[15] Google. “YouTube Red.” YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[16] Lenker, Margert. “YouTube Fans See a Different Side of Lilly Singh in YouTube Red’s ‘A Trip to Unicorn Island’.” Variety. N.p., 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[17] “A Trip To Unicorn Island (2016).” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[18] Spangler, Todd. “‘Dance Camp’: YouTube’s First Movie Has More Adult Themes Than Disney Musicals.” Variety. N.p., 12 Oct. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[19]”Dance Camp (2016)” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[20] PewDiePie. “LEVEL 7 | I’M NOT CRAZY (OUTLAST IRL GAMEPLAY).“YouTube. YouTube, 10 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[21] Brouwer, Bree. “Rooster Teeth To Release ‘Lazer Team’ In Theaters, On YouTube Red On January 27 – Tubefilter.” Tubefilter. N.p., 15 Dec. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[22] “Lazer Team by Rooster Teeth.” Indiegogo. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[23] “Lazer Team.” Metacritic. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[24] “Get Your Popcorn Ready! Our First YouTube Red Originals Are Now Available.” Official YouTube Blog. YouTube, 10 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.l

[25] Sarkar, Samit. “YouTube Gaming Launches Aug. 26 with Website and Mobile Apps.” Polygon. N.p., 25 Aug. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[26] Yeung, Ken. “Google Is Building YouTube Connect, a Livestreaming App to Take On Periscope.” VentureBeat. N.p., 23 Mar. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[27] “YouTube Creators Live From Tomorrow’s #DemDebate.” Official YouTube Blog. Google, 16 Jan. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[28] “One Step Closer to Reality: Introducing 360-degree Live Streaming and Spatial Audio on YouTube.” Official YouTube Blog. Google, 18 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[29] Philips, Amy, and Noah Yoo. “YouTube Launching 360-Degree Live Streams With Coachella 2016.” Pitchfork. N.p., 16 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[30] Popper, Ben. “YouTube Introduces Live 360 Video, the Gateway Drug to Virtual Reality.” The Verge. N.p., 18 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[31] A Trip To Unicorn Island Poster. Digital image. Punjab2000. N.p., 12 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

[32] Scare PewDiePie. Digital image. IMDb. N.p., 10 Feb. 2016. Web.

[33] Lazer Team. Digital image. IMDb. N.p., 10 Feb. 2016. Web.

[34] YouTube Gaming Logo. Digital image. PC Advisor. N.p., n.d. Web.

Hulu

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Jonah Rappaport

hulu company logo [1]

Founded: March 2007 by Beth Comstock & Jason Kilar

Jason Kilar [3]

Beth Comstock [2]

CEO: Mike Hopkins

Mike Hopkins [19]

SVP, Head of Distribution: Tim Connolly

Tim Connolly [19]

SVP, Head of Content: Craig Erwich

Craig Erwich [19]

SVP, General Counsel: Chadwick Ho

Chadwick Ho [19]

About

Hulu is an OTT (over the top) streaming service launched in 2008 to provide users with “hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of the best television programming and movies to subscribers with limited commercials” [4]. Hulu offers its services in both the United States and Japan on two pay scales: “with limited commercials for $7.99 per month or with no commercials for $11.99 per month” [4]. New users can also try Hulu for a 30-day free trial.

Compared to other OTT streaming services like Netflix and HBO Go, Hulu has the benefit of being owned by three of the largest programming distributors: NBCUniversal, Fox, and Disney-ABC. In total, Hulu has over 500 content partners [4], providing them a great advantage in programming over their competitors. On the advertising side, Hulu has partnerships with over 2,000 brand and companies, helping it gain recognition as one of “the top ad-supported online video sites” [4]. Hulu boasts a subscriber base of 9 Million users whose viewership trends are tracked by ComScore, Nielson, and Quantcast.

Background

Hulu was first announced during the Super Bowl XLII broadcast via an Alec Baldwin-starring commercial. Initially, the platform was available for free via an ad-supported system and at a premium level called “Hulu Plus” without ads. Archived content from its three powerhouse distributors (NBC/Fox/Disney) could be viewed in on an unlimited basis on both platforms. In 2011; however, Hulu announced that content would be available on the service the day after premiering once users authenticated their service-providers [5]. Later that year, the company struck a deal with the CW Network to also premiere their content next-day [6]. Two years later, Hulu signed on with BBC Worldwide North America to “bring as many as 2,000 episodes from 144 different BBC titles to a wider American audience” [7].

In Early 2015, AT&T struck a deal with Hulu to allow for streaming on “the telecom company’s websites and mobile apps” [11]. In June of 2015, Showtime became “the first premium service to be offered by Hulu” [8], in a monumental deal that allowed the company to effectively compete HBO Go by offering the addition of Showtime‘s premium content at only an additional $8.99/month as compared to HBO Go‘s $11.99/month charge [8]. This deal also showcased the Hulu platform’s ability to support premium add-ons, highlighting them as a powerful distribution tool for premium content providers. In

Original Programming

In 2011, Hulu partnered with documentary film-maker, Morgan Spurlock, on a 6-episode series titled, “A Day In The Life” [9]. The show was available to both free and premium subscribers and chronicled Spurlock as he followed a famous individual around for a day. In 2013, the company ramped up it’s original content by premiering “three original series and seven exclusive shows” [10]. As of April, 2016, the platform boasts 23 original titles, ranging from shows like The Awesomes to Deadbeat.

Exclusive Rights Deals

Currently, Hulu is focussed on acquiring rights to exclusive content and original series in order to lure potential users. This January, the company gained exclusive rights to stream “Lifetime’s critically acclaimed drama series from A+E Studios, UnREAL” [11] This move, which gambled on the success of a critically acclaimed show after it’s first season, highlights the mindset of much of the company’s moves thus far in 2016. In addition to UnReal, Hulu also picked up the rights to Chance, “a provocative psychological thriller that focuses on a forensic neuropsychiatrist who reluctantly gets sucked into a violent and dangerous world of mistaken identity, police corruption and mental illness” [12].

On January 27, Hulu announced a “landmark output deal” with IFC Films that makes “Hulu the exclusive streaming home for all future documentary releases from IFC Films, which will include all documentaries from the brands IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight” [15]. In a first-of-its-kind deal, all IFC films will now go directly from theaters to the Hulu platform in the first “one-window” agreement of its kind [15].

Curious George [17]

In March, Hulu and Universal announced a deal that gives the platform exclusive rights to the Curious George series for past and future releases within the window of a three-year deal [16]. In total, Hulu users “gain access to all nine seasons – over 100 episodes – of CURIOUS GEORGE^® TV series”. Additionally, Hulu will be the home to all Curious George feature-length films and the destination of “direct-to-TV specials” [16].

Content Creator

Aside from picking up the rights to existing content, Hulu sees itself as a platform for content creators to flex their muscles. Speaking at the Code/Media conference, CEO Mike Hopkins said, “What we’re trying to do is give creators the resources they need … and go for it” [14]. While the company is “lacking a defining show like “Orange Is the New Black” or “Transparent,” [14] Hulu is confident in its ability to win bidding wars for broadcast smash-hits, something apparent in the company’s success at beating out Netflix and HBO Go for the rights to Fox‘s Empire.

Virtual Reality

On March 24, Hulu announced the launch of it’s virtual reality application. Available on Samsung’s Gear VR platform, Hulu says that it will be bringing all current content to the app and will be “augmenting the experience with some of the very best 360-degree video content available” [18]. Additionally, the company states that users will be able to “watch the entire Hulu 2D library in immersive 360-degree environments” [18].

Overview

With the competitive world of OTT streaming as fiery a battle as ever, Hulu sees to distance itself from the competition by providing its users with innovative, exclusive content. To reel in new customers, the company hopes to be the first to strike gold in new ventures such as virtual reality and will continue to hope that its licensing deals continue to drive revenues.

Sources

[1] http://www.freelogovectors.net/hulu-logo-eps-file/

[2] Dan, Avi. “GE’s CMO Beth Comstock Inspires Innovation Through Instigating.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/avidan/2012/04/19/ges-cmo-beth-comstock-inspires-innovation-through-instigating/#61e6696d3de4>.

[3] Jason Kilar, Chief Executive Officer of Hulu LLC, Speaks during A…” Getty Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/jason-kilar-chief-executive-officer-of-hulu-llc-speaks-news-photo/123197454>.

[4] About Hulu.” Watch TV and Movies on Xbox, PS3, Apple TV, and More. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.hulu.com/press/about>.

[5] Stelter, Brian. “Fox to Limit Next-Day Streaming on Hulu to Paying Cable Customers.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 July 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/business/media/fox-to-limit-next-day-streaming-on-hulu.html>.

[6] Wasserman, Todd. “Hulu to Get Current Season of Gossip Girl and Other CW Content.” Mashable. N.p., 28 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://mashable.com/2011/10/28/hulu-gossip-girl-cw/#0f8HZKPPEsqq>.

[7] Hulu BBC Deal: A Positive Step After Some Cloudy Times » CEOWORLD Magazine.” CEOWORLD Magazine. N.p., 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://ceoworld.biz/2013/09/18/hulu-bbc-deal-a-positive-step-after-some-cloudy-times>.

[8] Perez, Sarah. “Showtime Becomes The First Premium Service To Be Offered By Hulu.” TechCrunch. N.p., 23 June 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/23/showtime-becomes-the-first-premium-service-to-be-offered-by-hulu/>.

[9] Emami, Gazelle. “Morgan Spurlock ‘A Day In The Life’: Original Series Premieres On Hulu (VIDEO).” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/17/morgan-spurlock-a-day-in-the-life_n_929008.html>.

[10] Gates, Sara. “Hulu Expands Original Content, Announces Three Series And Seven Exclusive Shows (VIDEO).” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/hulu-expands-original-content_n_1532718.html>.

[11] Smiley, Minda. “AT&T Strikes Deal with Hulu to Offer Subscription Service to Its Customers.” The Drum. N.p., 25 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.thedrum.com/news/2015/05/14/att-strikes-deal-hulu-offer-subscription-service-its-customers>.

[12] News.” TV Shows and Movies. Ed. Press Admin. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.hulu.com/press/posts/hulu-acquires-exclusive-svod-rights-to-unreal>.

[13] News.” Watch TV and Movies on Xbox, PS3, Apple TV, and More. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.hulu.com/press/posts/hulu-picks-up-chance>.

[14] CHMIELEWSKI, Dawn. “Hulu Finally Gets Serious With Original TV Series — But Is It Too Little, Too Late?” Recode. N.p., 18 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://recode.net/2016/02/18/hulu-finally-gets-serious-with-original-tv-series-but-is-it-too-little-too-late/>.

[15] Press Admin. “HULU STRIKES FIRST EVER DEAL FOR PAY ONE WINDOW RIGHTS WITH IFC FILMS.” Hulu.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.hulu.com/press/posts/hulu-strikes-first-ever-deal-for-pay-one-window-rights-with-ifc-films>.

[16] Press Admin. “HULU and UNIVERSAL INK GROUNDBREAKING DEAL FOR CURIOUS GEORGE® TV.” Hulu News. N.p., 17 Mar. 2016. Web. <http://www.hulu.com/press/news>.

[17] http://www.rivercenter.org/event/curious-george-2/

[18] Press Admin. “Hulu Launches Virtual Reality Application.” Hulu News. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.hulu.com/press/posts/hulu-launches-virtual-reality-application>.

[19] Press Admin. “Executives.” Hulu Executives. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.hulu.com/press/executives>.

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