Attempting to further differentiate itself from competitors such as Netflix, Amazon and HBO Go, Hulu has announced it will be adding four unique, in-house titles to its growing library of shows. Earlier this year, Hulu announced it would allocate $500 million to the development of original content and touted a customer base comprising of 1.5 million subscribers. The company says that number has now increased to 2 million.
In Hulu's statement made via e-mail, the company provided a quick synopsis of each upcoming series, as well as the names and talent involved with each show. Two new shows are scheduled to be launched in 2012 and 2013 while two others have yet to receive release dates.
- We Got Next (2012): Four unlikely friends butt heads on the pick-up basketball court and on the sidelines of everyday life. Starring: Kenya Barris (THE GAME, ARE WE THERE YET?, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL), Hale Rothstein (THE GAME, EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS), Danny Leiner (THE OFFICE, MODERN FAMILY, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, FREAKS AND GEEKS, HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE, DUDE WHERE’S MY CAR?
- The Awesomes (2013): An unassuming superhero and his cohorts battle diabolical villains, the ever-present paparazzi, and a less-than-ideal reputation as second-class crime fighters. Starring: Seth Meyers (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE), Michael Shoemaker (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON) and animation studio Bento Box (BOB’S BURGERS, ALLEN GREGORY).
- Don’t Quit Your Daydream: A cast of famous musicians travel across America in search of could-have-been musical artists to collaborate on a new song giving them a second-chance at stardom. Based on an award-winning documentary by Adrian Grenier and John Loar. Starring: Adrian Grenier; Produced by Virgin
- Flow: When Ed Dante, a hard-working kid from the wrong side of the tracks is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, he begins an epic quest to deliver true justice. To achieve his goal, he must discover the mysteries of an ancient art, uncover hidden worlds and become a hero to a generation. Starring: Michael “Dooma” Wendschuh (show creator, co-founder and president of sekretagent studios: ASSASSIN’S CREED II (2009), ARMY OF TWO (2008), ASSASSIN’S CREED (2007); David Belle (Founder of Parkour); Produced by Agility Studios (producers of The LXD) and the Shine Group (WHO KNEW? IT’S EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS, APPETITE FOR LIFE)
Source: techcrunch.com
Hulu isn't alone in its endeavor to provide subscribers original content. In 2011, Netflix announced it would be bankrolling its own original series. Fast forward to this year and Netflix has already released Lilyhammer while the service plans to add House of Cards, a drama featuring Kevin Spacey, to its line-up. In a deft display of necromancy, Netflix will even be resurrecting Arrested Development from it's pine box -- a show with a cult following that rests squarely in Fox's graveyard of premature cancellations. Meanwhile, HBO Go enjoys the success of HBO's already established, adult-themed titles while even Amazon is rumored to be working on something.
In the announcement, Hulu also reiterated what a positive year the company has had, generating $420 million in revenue. In addition to 40,000 hours of content, the streaming video service claims to offer 1,900 television shows comprised of more than 50,000 full-length episodes.
