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Hulu To Scrap Free Streaming Service

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Hulu is cutting the cord on its free streaming service.

The Santa Monica company says it is phasing out the free service over the coming weeks, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Hulu has offered a free, ad-supported service since 2007. The free tier has long distinguished Hulu from competitors that offer streaming video only to subscribers. The free service offers episodes of some NBC, ABC and ABC shows eight days after they air on TV.

Hulu introduced a paid subscription service in 2010. The paid service offers access to original series and other exclusive content. The company has recently increased its focus on the paid service amid its pitched battle against competitors Netflix and Amazon Prime.

A "limited commercials" Hulu subscription costs $7.99 a month, and a "no commercials" plan costs $11.99 a month.

Hulu's free content will live on through deals with other websites, according to the Hollywood Reporter. For example, Hulu has just signed a licensing deal with Yahoo in which Hulu's free episodes will populate a new Yahoo video offering, to be called Yahoo View, the Wall Street Journal said.

Hulu is owned by Disney, Fox, Comcast and Time Warner.

 

 

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