Hulu IPO: Dead Before Arrival

The Hulu IPO is dead, at least for now, according to the Wall Street Journal. A primary reason behind the IPO being put on hold perhaps forever is that Hulu doesn't have valuable long-term exclusive streaming rights to its owners' shows, said the paper. If the ability to broadcast these shows were lost, then Hulu's value is cut drastically. Hulu is thinking over new subscription plans that could expand its pay-video offerings beyond Hulu Plus. Hulu could potentially raise more money from its existing owners in an effort to license additional to content from more media companies. News Corp., NWSA, Walt Disney Co. DIS and General Electric Co.'s GE NBC Universal are investors in Hulu, as is Providence Equity Partners. A Hulu spokeswoman declined to comment. In a recent interview, CEO Jason Kilar said Hulu was outperforming its own expectations for paying subscribers, generating "material" revenue. Kilar has said that Hulu is on track to generate $260 million in revenue for 2010.