Hulu was set up by NBC Universal and News Corporation as a way to stream recent episodes of network shows, and opened to the American public on 12 March 2008. A paid tier, Hulu Plus, followed in 2010. For its first years it was a distributor, not a producer.
From web shows to Emmys
That changed in January 2011 with The Morning After, a light pop-culture news show and the first programme Hulu made itself. In February 2012 came Battleground, a documentary-style political drama and its first scripted original, shown on the free site. A run of originals followed, but the breakthrough was The Handmaid's Tale, a straight-to-series adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel that premiered on 26 April 2017. At that year's Emmys Hulu became the first streaming service to win Outstanding Drama Series.
Hulu also became a refuge for shows other networks had let go. It picked up The Mindy Project after Fox cancelled it in 2015, released a fourth season of Veronica Mars in July 2019 and brought back Futurama in 2023.
Under Disney
Disney gained a majority stake when it bought 21st Century Fox in March 2019 and bought out Comcast's share between 2023 and 2025. FX series such as The Bear and Reservation Dogs now premiere under the 'FX on Hulu' banner, and Only Murders in the Building launched in August 2021.
A name without a service
For British viewers Hulu has been a brand rather than a service. Its only overseas launch, in Japan in 2011, was sold to Nippon TV in 2014. Its shows have reached the UK through other outlets: The Handmaid's Tale premiered here on Channel 4 on 28 May 2017, later originals went to the Star section of Disney+, and in October 2025 Disney renamed that section Hulu.
Key dates
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Hulu opens to the public
The joint venture's streaming site launches for everyone in the United States.
Source: Wikipedia: Hulu
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The Morning After debuts
Hulu's first in-house production, a pop-culture news show, begins streaming.
Source: Wikipedia: Hulu
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The Handmaid's Tale premieres
Hulu's adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel debuts and goes on to win Outstanding Drama Series.
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Handmaid's Tale reaches Channel 4
UK viewers get Hulu's flagship drama on Channel 4.
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Only Murders in the Building debuts
The comedy-mystery premieres on Hulu, and on Star internationally the same day.
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Hulu brand arrives on UK Disney+
Disney replaces the Star section of Disney+ with Hulu outside the US.
Source: Wikipedia: Hulu