Web giant Yahoo is interested in acquiring the hugely popular US video streaming service Hulu, according to reports in the American media.
AllThingsD reports that, following Yahoo’s $1.1 billion purchase of blogging service Tumblr earlier this week, Yahoo is looking to snap up yet another popular web 2.0 mainstay.
The Hulu TV service, which isn’t available in the UK, but offers the best of US network television on free and paid subscriptions, has apparently been up for grabs for at least a year.
According to the report, Yahoo has submitted a bid for the video site, joining a host of US media heavyweights looking to grab the site, which has revolutionised catch-up TV in the US in much the same way the iPlayer and co. has in the UK.
AllThingsD reckons satellite provider DirecTV, conglomerate Time Warner Cable and others are also in the market for Hulu, which is currently part-owned by News Corp., Disney and Comcast.
If Yahoo were to agree a deal to take ownership of Hulu, it would continue the revitalisation of the former market leader in web services.
In March, Yahoo reportedly paid $30m in cash to British teenager Nick D’Aloisio for his Summly app and promptly integrated it into its own Yahoo News app.
It has also trimmed a host of its own services as it seeks to streamline the business.
Is Yahoo really on the path to web dominance once again or is it simply throwing mud at the wall hoping something will stick? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
