LOS ANGELES, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Los Angeles-based streaming service Hulu has bought out American telecommunications giant AT&T's 9.5 percent stake for a streaming video joint venture in a deal worth 1.43 billion U.S. dollars, the two companies said on Monday.
The transaction valued Hulu at 15 billion dollars, with AT&T's 9.5 percent interest valued at 1.43 billion dollars. The transaction did not require any governmental or other third-party approval and was simultaneously signed and closed, according to a statement released by the two companies.
Hulu's service may be bundled with Disney's streaming service Disney+ and ESPN+ service for a discount in the future, said Disney executives last week as the company announced that its long-planned Disney+ streaming service would be launched in November in the United States.
Hulu is a leading premium streaming service offering live and on-demand TV and movies, with and without commercials, both in and outside the homes. Launched in 2008, Hulu had more than 25 million subscribers in the United States at the end of 2018.
Hulu was previously co-owned by Disney, 21st Century Fox, Comcast and AT&T. By finalizing the 71.3-billion-dollar acquisition of 21st Century Fox last month, Disney now owns 60 percent of Hulu and Comcast owns 30 percent of Hulu.
