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IIRC, the licensing arrangement between Hulu and the network prohibits not showing ads on those shows, or some such nonsense.


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The networks have always entirely owned Hulu. It's that way because they want it to be.

Netflix has no such network licensing problems.


How quickly does Netflix get those shows? I believe Hulu gets them the day after broadcast. Maybe the network licensing term are different depending on the delay between broadcast and streaming?

As far as I know, Netflix negotiates those rights independently so it varies per network. They're doing a new-ish model now, though, where Netflix actually pays to co-produce content with networks in exchange for getting faster and/or exclusive streaming access.

The most high-profile example off the top of my head is the new Michael Jordan doc; they split the cost with ESPN, and Netflix gets next-day international rights and accelerated domestic streaming rights (3 months after broadcast, I think).


Netflix doesn't have the problem because they never had ads. Hulu likely signed a deal with ABC (or the production company who make the shows) for those three shows that still have ads before they had the idea to go commercial free. Changing a deal that had a provision about ads is expensive.

Hulu was a joint venture between several networks. There are three old shows that still have commercials due to old contracts that were made before they switched to the new business model.

Given TV deals are complicated (for example, the networks likely have revenue deals with production companies), its not worth a huge renegotiation.


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