Suddenlink is the latest U.S. MVPD to complete an integration with Hulu, announcing Thursday that the SVOD service is now available to the MSO’s subs with TiVo-powered set-top boxes.
Suddenlink customers with Hulu subscriptions can access the OTT service by tuning to channel 3001 on their TiVo box and signing in with their Hulu credentials. Customers without a Hulu account are in line for a free, one-week trial or can subscribe via the on-screen app or by visiting www.hulu.com/start/suddenlink.
Update: The version of Hulu offered via Suddenlink, however, is absent some content. Per the Suddenlink/Hulu site: "CW and Univision content is not available through Hulu on your cable provider’s set top box. You may still be able to watch this content through other Hulu-supported devices." Suddenlink has been asked for the reason. Cablevision's web site about its Hulu integration deal does not mention any limitation of Hulu content.
Update 2: Due to streaming rights, content from select partners (CW and Univision) isn't available on certain devices, Multichannel News has learned. However, users can still stream that content through other Hulu-supported devices. Additionally, this disclaimer for Cablevision subscribers is mentioned here.
“We’re continually working on innovative ways to satisfy our customers’ entertainment demands,” said Suddenlink Chief Programming Officer Kathy Payne, in a statement. “Our network investments allow us to deliver Internet content from providers like Hulu using Internet connections that generally are the fastest and top-rated in areas we serve.”
Suddenlink announced plans to integrate Hulu’s SVOD service about a year ago. Suddenlink, now part of Altice, also integrates Netflix on its TiVo platform. Rovi is acquiring TiVo for $1.1 billion.
Last month, Cablevision Systems, which is the process of being acquired by Altice, became the first U.S. MVPD to distribute Hulu on set-top boxes, enabling it with ActiveVideo’s CloudTV StreamCast, a technology that converts user interfaces, video and other content from Web formats to formats that can be rendered and displayed by non-IP or incompatible IP set-tops.
Hulu has also announced distribution deals with several other MVPDs and ISPs, including AT&T, Armstrong, Atlantic Broadband, Mediacom Communications, Midcontinent Communications and WideOpenWest (WOW!).
Hulu is also developing an OTT-TV skinny-bundle service that would presumably compete with some of its new MVPD partners.
