Hulu is set to become the exclusive streaming home to future DreamWorks theatrical releases and library films, and the US streamer will also develop original series with DreamWorks Animation Television (DWA) based on the studio’s popular franchises and upcoming features.
As part of its largest kids and family licensing deal to date—and its first-ever multi-year pact with DreamWorks Animation—Hulu will become the exclusive streaming home to future DreamWorks features in the pay one window beginning in 2019. The deal will include upcoming franchise titles How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, The Boss Baby 2 and Trolls 2. Classic DreamWorks library films including Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shark Tale will also be available on Hulu for the first time.
In addition, new DWA-produced projects are expected to launch on Hulu in 2020. It remains unclear how DreamWorks’ deal with Hulu will affect the studio’s recently extended partnership with Netflix, which stated that DreamWorks will continue to create series based on original and acquired IP for the SVOD giant.
Hulu announced its groundbreaking deal during the company’s Hulu 18 Presentation at the newly-named Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden today in New York. The streamer has also revealed that it has eclipsed 20 million US subscribers and has grown total engagement on the platform by more than 60%. The company also says that nearly 80% of viewing on the service is done in the living room on connected TVs.
In other Hulu news, the company will introduce advertising within its live-TV offering on select cable networks later this quarter, as well as provide a downloadable content experience for subscribers with opportunities for advertisers. The latter offer will launch on Hulu during the 2018-19 upfront season.