Apple’s abundance of available cash is certainly no secret. With $76.2 billion in the bank at the end of the June quarter, the company has more money then the gross domestic product of almost two-thirds of the world’s countries. But what will it do with all that cash? Just sit on it in case of an (incredibly) rainy day?
Of course not. To begin with, it may just be about to buy Hulu.
A new report from Bloomberg cites two people “familiar with the auction” who say Apple is currently in talks that could see the Cupertino company make a bid for Hulu.
There are a number of large companies said to be interested in the online video streaming service, including Yahoo, Google and AT&T. Yahoo has reportedly bid $2 billion, but demands a five-year exclusive on current TV shows and older movies. Microsoft was also interested initially, but dropped out of bidding earlier this week.
The winning bidder will receive a five-year extension of program rights, including two years of exclusive access, to content from Disney (where Apple CEO Steve Jobs is a major shareholder), News Corp., and Comcast’s NBC.
Hulu Plus is already available on Apple’s mobile devices with an official iOS app, but if Apple becomes Hulu’s owner, could the service be integrated into the iOS operating system in a manner similar to iTunes and its video rentals?
The service is also available on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and on smartphones powered by Google’s Android operating system.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
14 responses to “Is Apple Set to Purchase Video Streaming Service Hulu?”
this would be great, to see the iTunes/iOS integration they could do with it and it would defiantly be a good + for itunes but if Apple were to buy it, would they make it ‘Apple Eco-system’ exclusive?
This might be just the thing Apple TV 2 need to be dominant in the segment. Boxee and others have bee tough challengers with all of their features, but with ownership of HULU, ATV would be nearly irresistible. In addition, the licensing fees would now go to Apple from MS, Sony, and Android for the content usage on their apps.
Check out more on this story at FOM:
http://friendsofmac.net/2011/0…
and make less money? I think not.
there might be fewer updates for the other players etc but they’ll definitely keep it functional across platforms- just as long as the royalty checks keep coming in.
Will Apple scoop up Hulu?
That’s like buying Lenovo so they can have a computer manufacturer build iMacs and iPhones, instead of an assembly contractor.
What’s next in the rumor pile, Apple buying Zune to add to its iPod arsenal?…or Borders so it can sell books on iTunes?
I believe it will be like a lot of things apple does. Have it work great on all mac and iOS devices, and lack luster on all others.
But you are right, they aren’t going to give up licensing from Vizio, MSFT, and Boxee etc., not to mention all those subscribers.
I’d love if I finally could get Hulu on my Apple TV!