Hulu Scores 'CSI' Coup
*19 Feb, 2015 **
**
**By: Erik Gruenwedel**
**Home Media Magazine*
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/streaming/hulu-scores-csi-coup-35263
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/Longtime 'CSI' cast members George Eads and Eric Szmanda/
Deal marks the first time 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' has
ever been licensed to a SVOD service
Hulu Feb. 19 announced it acquired exclusive subscription
video-on-demand (SVOD) rights to all previous seasons of CBS’ critically
acclaimed crime drama “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” beginning in April.
Hulu will also soon become the exclusive SVOD home to all previous
seasons of the CBS crime drama “Elementary.”
The deal marks the first time “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” has ever
been licensed to a SVOD service. Financial terms of the agreement, which
includes 300 episodes, all complete past seasons, and full libraries of
past seasons of the 15-year-old show ahead of future series premieres,
was not disclosed.
“CSI,” which is the second-longest-running scripted primetime TV series
currently on the air, stars long-running cast members George Eads, David
Berman, Wallace Langham, Eric Szmanda, Jorja Fox, William Peterson and
Robert David Hall, in addition to current headliners Elizabeth Shue and
Ted Danson.
The pact does not include “CSI: Miami” and “CSI: NY” — both shows
canceled in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
“This deal not only represents a huge growth in our offering of premium
content, but it also represents an expansion in our partnership with
CBS,” Craig Erwich, SVP and head of content for Hulu, said in a statement.
Indeed, Hulu Plus, with about 6 million subscribers, lags significantly
behind Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video in subs.
Co-owned by The Walt Disney Co., 21st Century Fox and Comcast, Fox CEO
Rupert Murdoch recently said the corporate partners were united in
promoting Hulu (including infusing $700 million in funding) — a reality
he said was vital in marketing a serious rival to Netflix and Amazon Prime.
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” joins more than 5,300 library episodes
of CBS programming added to Hulu last year in an expanded licensing deal
with the network. In separate deals, Hulu acquired non-exclusive
subscription streaming rights to previous seasons of “The Good Wife” and
the police procedural “Blue Bloods.”
“This agreement and previous deals with our partners at Hulu further
validates how well CBS procedural dramas perform on subscription
services. And, at a time when CBS is getting ready to premiere the next
generation of the “CSI” franchise with “CSI: Cyber,” it’s very exciting
to make … the show that started it all to Hulu subscribers,” Scott
Koondel, chief corporate content licensing officer for CBS, said in a
statement.
“CSI: Cyber,” which stars Peter MacNicol, Patricia Arquette and Charley
Koontz, launches March 4.
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