AFI BLOG: Media and Technology

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“The early signs are very promising,” said Jason Kilar, the chief executive of Hulu, just a month after the public launch of the ambitious online video venture. Speaking at the NAB convention in Las Vegas, he came across as confident and composed, addressing an audience that a few years ago might have been dismissive or distrustful of the concept of delivering video entertainment online. On this occasion they appeared enthusiastically encouraging.

Hulu is a joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corporation. Many may have had their doubts that such an initiative could possibly succeed. If it now shows early signs of success it may be largely attributable to Jason Kilar, who joined from Amazon, although he is equally keen to credit the support of his team and the senior executives from its shareholding companies that have been committed to making their programming available online.

Online video viewing in the United States has more than tripled over the last two years, accompanied by a commensurate increase in spending on advertising.

“There’s something afoot here,” said Jason. “Clearly users are embracing media when it is made available on their terms.” He describes Hulu as the ability to watch your favourite programmes any time, for free. “Our mission is ambitious and never-ending: help people find and enjoy the world’s premium content, when, where and how they want to.”

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