CBS Joins Hulu Live TV Service

Hulu announced a comprehensive, new agreement with CBS to carry America’s most-watched broadcast network, as well as popular sports and entertainment channels CBS Sports Network and POP, with the potential to add additional networks in the future. All networks in the deal will be available to stream live, with much of their programming available on-demand as well, through Hulu’s new multichannel, live TV streaming service, set to launch in the coming months.

With the addition of the CBS channels, subscribers to Hulu’s new live service will have access to popular programming, both live and on-demand. CBS’s preeminent sports programming, including the NFL on CBS and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will also be offered on the new service, as well as news programming and specials, CBS’s leading late night shows and major annual live events such as The Grammys. In addition, the new deal extends Showtime Networks’ existing deal with Hulu in which Showtime is offered as a premium subscription service to those customers who subscribe to Hulu’s live or SVOD service.

The CBS deal follows Hulu’s recently announced agreements with 21st Century Fox and The Walt Disney, which encompassed more than 35 top networks. Earlier, Hulu announced an affiliate agreement with Time Warner for live and on-demand streaming of Turner’s suite of popular entertainment, sports, news and kids’ networks. Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins revealed that the new service, which will offer CBS, Fox, Disney and Turner programming, will cost under $40 a month. Hulu executives are attending CES in Las Vegas to tout the new service.