Hulu unveils content plans at upfront

MUMBAI: Hulu, co-owned by News Corp, Disney and NBCUniversal, is making substantial investments in original content.

One of the shows announced at its upfront is ?The Awesomes? from Seth Meyers and producer Michael Shoemaker. It is about an unassuming superhero and his cohorts who battle diabolical villains, the ever-present paparazzi and a less-than-ideal reputation as second-class crimefighters.

Hulu also sent a message to the ad fraternity that online video is a medium that they cannot afford to ignore.

Hulu?s head of advertising Jean-Paul Colaco said, "Online video is exploding. It?s a tremendous time of transformation and Hulu is the catalyst for that growth."

Other shows announced include ?Up To Speed?. This is a Richard Linklater reality show that follows tour guide, historian and ?flaneur Timothy ?Speed? Levitch as he visits somewhat obscure monuments in American cities. ?We Got Next? is a male targetted show about four men who form an unlikely friendship around their mutual love of pick-up basketball.

?Don?t Quit Your Daydream? is an adaptation of Grenier?s documentary featuring famous musicians searching for could-have-been stars and giving them a second chance. ?Flow? is about Ed Dante, a hard-working kid from the wrong side of the tracks who is framed for a crime he didn?t commit. He begins a 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.

The company said that Americans watched 2.5 billion videos on it in February -- about 1,000 videos a second. Hulu also said that it held 20 per cent of the online video market and 40 per cent of the premium video market. It said that its more than two million paid subscribers have made its $8-per-month video subscription service the fastest growing in US history.

Last year Hulu made $420 million in revenue.