NBCUniversal has ended its content deal with Hulu, re-routing Saturday Night Live and a number of other marquee titles to its own streaming service, Peacock.The shift, which is set to take effect in September, is not a surprise and comes after weeks of speculation.
While it was not formally announced, it was confirmed to Deadline by multiple people familiar with the decision.NBCU was an original partner in Hulu when it launched in 2007 but current parent Comcast is unwinding its relationship to the service, which is now operated by its majority owner, Disney.
Comcast retains a financial stake in Hulu through 2024, with a buyout not an easy maneuver to pull off given the rapid appreciation of streaming overall.Starting this fall, shows including SNL, The Voice and American Auto will not be available to stream on Hulu the day after they air.
The full roster of programming shifting to Peacock has not yet been confirmed.The move comes amid ever-heightening stakes in streaming.
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