Hulu inks deal with AMC for exclusive SVOD rights to Walking Dead spin-off

Today, Hulu revealed that it signed an exclusive deal with AMC to be the only subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) provider to air a new program called Fear of the Walking Dead. The show is a spin-off of the television series The Walking Dead. 

The deal for Fear of the Walking Dead is a part of a multiyear deal with AMC Networks for exclusive SVOD rights to “new and upcoming” shows from AMC, IFC, BBC America, Sundance TV, and WE tv. Fear of the Walking Dead is the first show to be exclusively shown on Hulu; however, the SVOD provider will get exclusive access to other shows from these channels down the line.

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The announcement follows a licensing deal the company reportedly signed with Sony for the SVOD rights to all episodes of Seinfeld. The Seinfeld agreement is worth $180 million, or $1 million an episode, according to Variety. All nine seasons will be available starting in June.

Hulu says that people are watching 30 percent more than they did last year — a total of 700 million hours watched in 2014. Hulu is also expanding the number of eyes its content is reaching by striking a deal with TV-on-the-go provider Optimum to distribute its subscription service. The deal mimics one that HBO struck with Optimum earlier this year for distribution of HBO Now. Hulu chief exec Mike Hopkins says Hulu will roll out to other service providers later this year.

The subscription service is building out its store of exclusive content and original programs to compete better with the growing number of video-on-demand services like HBO Now, Amazon Prime, and Netflix.

Hulu has 9 million paid subscribers, just a fraction of Netflix’s 62 million.