Hulu launched in 2007 as a joint venture between major television networks

Hulu started in March 2007 as a streaming service owned by ABC, NBC, and Fox — the three largest broadcast television networks at the time. The service was built to let people watch TV shows and movies online, which was still a novel idea when smartphones and home internet speeds were much slower than today. The name "Hulu" comes from a Mandarin Chinese word meaning "interactive recording," though the service was always designed for American audiences.

The first few years were experimental. Hulu offered free, ad-supported streaming of recent TV episodes and older films, which was revolutionary for 2007. The service was clunky by modern standards — video quality was low, the selection was limited, and the technology required constant updates. But it proved that people would watch television on computers if the content was recent enough and the price was right.

In 2010, Hulu introduced Hulu Plus (later renamed Hulu), a paid subscription tier that removed ads and added more content. This was the moment Hulu shifted from a free ad-supported experiment to a real business model competing with cable television.

Key Takeaways

  • Hulu was founded in 2007 by ABC, NBC, and Fox as a way for networks to stream their own TV shows online.
  • The service started free and ad-supported, then added a paid subscription option in 2010 to compete with cable.
  • Disney acquired majority control of Hulu in 2019 and now owns it completely as part of its streaming strategy.
  • Hulu has been operating for over 17 years, making it one of the oldest streaming services still in wide use.

Disney's acquisition and the shift to a major streaming platform

For most of its first decade, Hulu remained a secondary streaming service — useful for catching up on network TV, but not the main reason people subscribed to streaming. That changed when Disney acquired majority control in 2019 and began investing heavily in original content and technology upgrades. Disney already owned ABC and had stakes in other networks, so the acquisition consolidated streaming rights under one company.

Disney's ownership transformed Hulu from a network catch-up service into a full streaming competitor. The company bundled Hulu with Disney+ and ESPN+ into a single subscription package, which made it more attractive to families. Original shows like "The Handmaid's Tale," "Only Murders in the Building," and "Reservation Dogs" gave Hulu prestige content that rivaled Netflix and HBO Max.

By 2023, Disney completed its acquisition of the remaining shares it did not own, making Hulu a wholly owned Disney subsidiary. This meant Disney could make long-term decisions about Hulu's direction without negotiating with other networks.

How Hulu compares to other streaming services by age

Hulu is older than most major streaming services people use today. Netflix started streaming in 2007 (the same year as Hulu), but Netflix began as a DVD rental service in 1997, so it had a 10-year head start. Amazon Prime Video launched in 2006. HBO Max did not arrive until 2020. Disney+ launched in 2019. Apple TV+ started in 2019. Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) began in 2014.

This means Hulu has been around longer than Disney+, which many people assume is older because Disney owns both. Hulu has also survived longer than many competitors — services like Quibi (2020–2021) and Apple's early streaming efforts came and went while Hulu kept operating.

What Hulu offered in its early years versus today

In 2007, Hulu's catalog was small and focused on recent episodes of network television. You could watch "The Office," "Lost," or "30 Rock" the day after they aired, which was the main selling point. Movies were older titles that networks owned or licensed cheaply. There were no original series — Hulu straightforward redistributed content that already existed.

Today's Hulu includes thousands of TV episodes, hundreds of movies, and dozens of original series produced specifically for the platform. The video quality jumped from 480p in the early years to 4K in 2022. The interface changed from a clunky web player to apps on phones, tablets, smart TVs, and streaming devices. Live TV was added in 2017, letting subscribers watch cable channels in real time.

The biggest shift is that Hulu now competes for attention the same way Netflix and HBO Max do — through original drama, comedy, and documentary series that people specifically subscribe to watch, rather than as a bonus for catching up on network TV.

Why Hulu has lasted longer than most streaming competitors

Hulu survived the early streaming wars because it had something most competitors did not: direct relationships with the networks that produce television. ABC, NBC, and Fox created Hulu to protect their own interests, so they had financial incentive to keep it alive. When Netflix and Amazon Prime Video tried to license TV content, they had to negotiate with networks that were also competing with them. Hulu, by contrast, had the content built in.

Disney's ownership reinforced this advantage. Disney owns ABC and controls the Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic franchises. It can put new content on Hulu when ready without licensing negotiations. This vertical integration — owning both the content and the distribution — is why Hulu has remained relevant while other early streaming services faded.

The bundling strategy also helped. By offering Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ together at a lower price than buying them separately, Disney made Hulu a default part of the package for millions of households. People who signed up for Disney+ often kept Hulu as part of the bundle even if they did not actively use it.

The shift from network catch-up to original content

Hulu's original programming strategy began slowly. The first original series, "The Awesomes," aired in 2013 and was a modest animated comedy. For years, Hulu's originals were secondary to its main business of streaming network TV. The turning point came around 2017 with "The Handmaid's Tale," a prestige drama that won Emmy Awards and proved Hulu could produce content that competed with HBO and Netflix.

After that, Hulu invested more aggressively in original series. Shows like "Killing Eve," "Pen15," and "Ramy" built critical reputations. Under Disney ownership, the investment accelerated. Hulu now produces dozens of original series per year across drama, comedy, documentary, and limited series formats.

This transformation from a network catch-up service to an original content platform is why Hulu remains relevant 17 years after launch. Without the shift to originals, Hulu would likely have become obsolete as networks built their own streaming apps (which many did anyway — NBC has Peacock, CBS has Paramount+, ABC content is on Disney+).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hulu older than Disney+?

Yes. Hulu launched in 2007, while Disney+ did not arrive until 2019. Many people assume Disney+ is older because Disney owns both and heavily promoted Disney+ when it launched. Hulu has been streaming for 12 years longer than Disney+.

Did Hulu invent streaming television?

No. Netflix began streaming in 2007, the same year as Hulu. Both services launched around the same time, though Netflix had already been a DVD rental company for a decade. YouTube also existed in 2007 and hosted video content, though it was not a dedicated TV streaming service.

Why did Hulu survive when other streaming services failed?

Hulu had direct ownership stakes from major networks, which gave it may provide content and financial backing. It also adapted by investing in original series and bundling with Disney+ and ESPN+. Services without this advantage, like Quibi, could not sustain themselves.

Can you still watch network TV on Hulu the day after it airs?

Yes, though it depends on licensing agreements with each network. Most ABC, NBC, and Fox shows appear on Hulu within a day of airing. Some shows have delays, and some networks have moved content to their own apps (like Peacock for NBC shows). Check Hulu's catalog for the specific show you want to watch.

Does Hulu still have ads even with a paid subscription?

Hulu offers two paid tiers: one with ads and one without. The ad-free tier costs more. The ad-supported tier is cheaper and is how Hulu generates revenue alongside subscription fees, similar to its original 2007 model.