Bids for the latest attempt to sell Hulu closed on Friday at 2PM PT, with no clear leader. Reportedly at the top of the bidding with very similar offers are DirecTV, The Chernin Group, and Guggenheim Digital Media. Two other bidders allegedly behind the top three are Time Warner Cable, and equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Beyond just undisclosed cash considerations, the conglomerate that currently own the digital video streaming service are evaluating content licensing provisions, which vary suitor to suitor.
Owners 21st Century Fox, Disney, and Comcast wish agreements with any prospective purchaser to limit the availability of top shows on Hulu. Sources familiar with the situation want the limits on one of the top five shows in a season, and one more in the sixth to tenth most popular bracket, likely with an eye towards not limiting other revenue streams, such as DVD sales or Amazon, Netflix, or iTunes streaming deals.
No offer terms have been made public. The first attempt to sell the company met in failure, but the conglomerate that owns Hulu now is reportedly more interested in closing the deal this time around.
