Hulu is an online video provider held by NBC Universal, News Corporation, and, as of April 2009, Disney. The site focuses exclusively on professional content and does not take on YouTube directly as a viral video destination. The site raised $100 million in financing from Providence Equity Partners. Hulu is currently the second largest video provider on the web.

Hulu videos are played in their own embeddable branded player. Content from at least a dozen TV networks and two major film studios is promised. Initial distribution partners include AOL, Comcast, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo.

Jason Kilar, Hulu’s CEO, explains Hulu’s name, “Objectively, Hulu is short, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and rhymes with itself. Subjectively, Hulu strikes us as an inherently fun name, one that captures the spirit of the service we’re building.” However, some aren’t so sure it was the wisest name to pick.

In September 2007 that Hulu acquired Bejing-based startup Mojiti and used its platform for the basis of the product.

Milestones
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hulu — It’s Official: Hulu Plus Subscription Package Debuts For $9.99 A Month (6/29/10)

Posted 6/29/10 at 5:56pm via paidcontent.org
hulu received in Series B funding. (4/30/09)

Posted 4/30/09 at 8:05am via techcrunch.com
hulu — Hulu Tops 100 Content Providers, Launches New Features to Enhance Discoverability (9/23/08)

Posted 9/23/08 at 1:21pm
hulu — Hulu Refreshes HD Gallery with Diverse Selection of Full Hit Episodes (8/5/08)

Posted 8/5/08 at 10:39am
hulu received $100M in Series A funding. (8/1/07)

Posted 8/29/07 at 8:25am via techcrunch.com
hulu added Eric Feng as CTO.

Posted 3/8/08 at 5:15am
hulu added Jason Kilar as CEO.

Posted 8/29/07 at 8:17am
hulu added Jean-Paul Colaco as SVP of Advertising.

Posted 3/8/08 at 10:50am
hulu added Andy Forssell as SVP of Content Acquisition and Distribution.

Posted 3/8/08 at 10:50am
hulu added Tom Fuelling as SVP and CFO.

Posted 3/8/08 at 10:50am
hulu added Chadwick Ho as SVP and General Counsel.

Posted 3/8/08 at 10:50am
hulu added Kay Gabaldon as Director, Talent Acquisition.

Posted 6/13/08 at 4:05pm