News Corporation and NBC Universal publicly announced plans for an ad-supported online video venture (the project that became Hulu), positioning it as a studio-backed alternative to user-upload video platforms.
Hulu started private beta testing by invitation, giving early users access to network TV episodes and establishing the service’s initial ad-supported streaming model.
Hulu moved from private beta to public access in the United States, expanding availability beyond invitations and accelerating mainstream adoption of network-backed streaming.
The Walt Disney Company (via ABC and other brands) became an equity partner in Hulu and agreed to contribute content, broadening Hulu beyond its initial NBCU/News Corp. base.
Hulu introduced Hulu Plus, a paid tier (initially in preview) that expanded access to full seasons and enabled broader device support, marking Hulu’s major shift toward subscriptions alongside ads.
Hulu launched in Japan as its first international expansion, signaling early efforts to take the platform beyond U.S.-only licensing constraints.
Providence Equity Partners confirmed it sold its roughly 10% Hulu stake (originally an early outside investment), consolidating ownership among the major media-company parents.
Following News Corporation’s corporate split, its Hulu ownership interest transferred to 21st Century Fox, keeping the stake within Murdoch’s entertainment-focused successor company.
Hulu added a commercial-free subscription tier (with limited exceptions due to licensing), expanding pricing/experience options beyond its standard ad-supported subscription.
Hulu said it would discontinue its free, ad-supported viewing option and focus on subscription offerings, reflecting a broader industry move toward paid streaming economics.
Hulu rolled out a live-TV bundle in beta, combining linear channels with on-demand streaming and positioning Hulu as a cable-replacement option for cord-cutters.
Disney completed its acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets, which included Fox’s Hulu stake—giving Disney a majority position in Hulu.
AT&T sold its minority ownership interest in Hulu back to the company, simplifying the cap table and increasing Disney’s ownership share ahead of Disney’s broader streaming push.
Disney and Comcast agreed that Disney would take full operational control of Hulu effective immediately, while establishing a put/call framework for Disney to buy Comcast’s stake as early as January 2024 (with a $27.5B minimum valuation floor for the overall company).
Hulu platform milestones and ownership changes (2007–2020)
