GreenBkk Tech | Hulu cuts subscription fee as service launches

Hulu cuts subscription fee as service launches

Credit: Reuters (www.reuters.com)

Cast members of the new series ''Glee'' discuss the show at the Fox Summer Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California in this August 6, 2009 file photo. Hulu Plus, which made its official debut on Wednesday, offers subscribers access to premium content, including current hit TV shows ''Glee,'' ''30 Rock,'' and ''Modern Family,'' through a variety of devices including Apple iPad and Sony's PlayStation 3.

Credit: Reuters/Fred Prouser

(Reuters) - Internet video company Hulu slashed the price of its subscription service Hulu Plus, which made its official debut on Wednesday.

Hulu knocked down the monthly cost to $7.99 from the preview price of $9.99. Users who subscribed to the preview service, which was available in June, will receive a credit for the price difference, the company said.

Hulu Plus subscribers have access to premium content, including current hit TV shows "Glee," "30 Rock," and "Modern Family," through a variety of devices including Apple Inc's iPad and Sony Corp's PlayStation 3.

The price cut underscores the stiff competition in digital media from the likes of Amazon, Google, Apple and Netflix, which are all jockeying to stream movies and TV shows to people's living rooms and mobile devices.

Sources recently told Reuters that Hulu is considering an effort to raise $200 million to $300 million in a public offering that would help fund its efforts to expand and pay for more content deals. Such an offering would value the company at about $2 billion, the sources said.

Backed by General Electric Co's NBC Universal, Walt Disney Co, News Corp and private equity firm Providence Equity Partners, Hulu is now the second-largest Web video service behind Google's YouTube in the United States.

Last week, Hulu Chief Executive Officer Jason Kilar said the company's revenue was on track to double this year to $240 million.

(Reporting by Jennifer Saba; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

Credit: Reuters (www.reuters.com)