Hulu to launch subscription service in Japan

Hulu, the video website owned by media giants Comcast Corp., Walt Disney Co. and News Corp., is launching a subscription service in Japan.

The move is the first international expansion for Hulu, which carries a large library of movies and television shows. The service will be free for one month to subscribers, then it will be a pay service.

“We are taking a first but important step to make good on our aspiration to serve customers all over the world,” said Johannes Larcher, Hulu’s senior vice president of international operations.

In addition to content from Disney, parent of ABC; Comcast, owner of NBCUniversal; and News Corp., parent of Fox, Hulu will offer content from CBS. This marks the first time that CBS has done business with Hulu abroad or in the United States.

In the past, CBS has resisted putting its content on Hulu and has opted instead to offer its programs on its own platforms.

However, in this case the deal held appeal because it is primarily library content of older TV shows and is being offered on a subscription service. CBS has entered into similar deals with Netflix Inc.

“This new subscription service marks yet another opportunity to deliver CBS programming to more global viewers in a way that complements our traditional licensing business and realizes even more incremental value from our library,” said Armando Nuñez, president, CBS Studios International.

Although CBS’ decision to team up with Hulu abroad might stir speculation that it will offer its content to the site in the U.S., that is unlikely, said a person familiar with the company’s strategy who declined to speak for attribution.

Hulu also has deals with Sony and Warner Bros. for content to offer in Japan.

Launched in 2008, Hulu’s owners have been shopping the company to potential bidders. Among those that have kicked the tires are Google Inc., Yahoo Inc., Dish Network Corp., DirecTV and Amazon.com Inc.

[email protected]