We just reported that Hulu spent roughly the nominal GDP of the Cook Islands to acquire the rights to a decades-old show about nothing. Now, in what seems indicative of a media power-struggle between Hulu and Netflix, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Hulu is acquiring the rights to programming from AMC, IFC, BBC America, Sundance TV and WEtv, including the Walking Dead spinoff Fear The Walking Dead.
Suggesting that AMC executives possess the cold logic of King Solomon, the network’s programming has essentially been cleaved in two, with Netflix retaining the rights to AMC’s past and current hits Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Better Call Saul, and the original Walking Dead. Meanwhile, Hulu will get dibs on streaming future AMC series, as well as many upcoming IFC films.
AMC COO Ed Carroll expressed his satisfaction with the move, saying, “We are excited about this new partnership with Hulu, a growing company that has created a network-branded environment for content in a highly competitive space.” Or, to put it another way, AMC really likes all the gold bullion that Hulu just drove over in a fleet of dump trucks. Netflix will likely respond by acquiring exclusive rights to something else as this streaming arms race continues. Meanwhile, cable customers are scowling ever more suspiciously at their triple-digit monthly bills.