Is DirecTV Buying Hulu Soon?

Satellite TV provider DirecTV reportedly is considering buying streaming video service Hulu, which would strip away some or all ownership from Comcast Corporation, News Corporation and Walt Disney Company. A similar scenario took place two years ago when DirecTV initially wanted to own Hulu.

Mashable has reached out to DirecTV. Hulu declined to comment. A source close to the matter told The Wall Street Journal that DirecTV is mulling an agreement that could expand its TV Everywhere service, which lets subscribers access programming from the web and on mobile devices. Meanhwile, Bloomberg Businessweek reports, via two unnamed sources, the discussions between DirecTV and Hulu are "at an early stage."

This video explains DirecTV's TV Everywhere, which Hulu could be weaved into:

Hulu viewers streamed 1 billion videos in the first quarter of this year, and on average, they stayed on Hulu for 45 minutes per session. Additionally, Hulu's premium video service, Hulu Plus, has doubled its user base in the past 12 months, surpassing 4 million paying subscribers since launching Hulu Plus in 2010.

Hulu, which launched in 2007, earned $695 million in revenue in 2012 and currently has 470 content partners, 57,000 hours of content, 70,000 TV episodes, 2,500 TV series and 1,000 brand advertisers. Hulu recently told Mashable 11 series and season premieres arrive on Hulu this summer and fall.

1. Seth Meyers for 'The Awesomes'

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

2. Michael Shoemaker and Seth Meyers for 'The Awesomes'

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

3. Seth Meyers for 'The Awesomes'

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

4. Michael Shipley and Eva Longoria for 'Mother Up!'

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

5. Chris O'Dowd for 'Moone Boy'

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

6. Josh Greenbaum for 'Behind The Mask'

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

7. John Lehr and Nancy Hower for 'Quick Draw'

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

8. Gideon Raff for 'Prisoners of War'

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

9. 'Behind The Mask' Mascot

   Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

   

10. 'Behind The Mask' Mascot

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

11. Jim Field-Smith, James Corden and Mathew Baynton for 'The Wrong Mans'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

12. Michael Shipley and Eva Longoria for 'Mother Up!'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

13. Chris O'Dowd for 'Moone Boy'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

14. Josh Greenbaum for 'Behind The Mask'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

15. 'Behind The Mask' Mascot

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

16. Josh Greenbaum for 'Behind The Mask'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

17. John Lehr and Nancy Hower for 'Quick Draw'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

18. Nancy Hower for 'Quick Draw'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

19. John Lehr for 'Quick Draw'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

20. Michael Shoemaker and Seth Meyers for 'The Awesomes'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

21. Michael Shoemaker and Seth Meyers for 'The Awesomes'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

22. Jim Field-Smith, James Corden and Mathew Baynton for 'The Wrong Mans'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

23. Michael Shipley and Eva Longoria for 'Mother Up!'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

24. Gideon Raff for 'Prisoners of War'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

25. Chris O'Dowd for 'Moone Boy'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

26. Chris O'Dowd for 'Moone Boy'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

27. Michael Shoemaker for 'The Awesomes'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

28. James Corden and Mathew Baynton for 'The Wrong Mans'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

29. Josh Greenbaum for 'Behind The Mask'

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

30. Hulu Plus Pillow

    Image by Mashable, Emil Lendof

    

Image by Mashable's Emil Lendof