Written by Om Malik
Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 8:00 AM PT

 

NewCo finally gets a name: Hulu

News Corp. and NBC Universal have finally announced the name for their much talked about NewCo online video effort: Hulu. CEO Jason Kilar explains the reasons why they picked the name.

Why Hulu? Objectively, Hulu is short, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and rhymes with itself. Subjectively, Hulu strikes us as an inherently fun name, one that captures the spirit of the service we’re building. Our hope is that Hulu will embody our (admittedly ambitious) never-ending mission, which is to help you find and enjoy the world’s premier content when, where and how you want it.

The company is going to go into a private beta in October 20078. Starting today, however, you can sign up for the private beta. The company recently raised $100 million in investment from private equity firm of Providence Equity Partners. (Also, Center Networks has more information.)

 

Sphere
Topic: Startups
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Comments & Trackbacks

  1. Correction? Beta starts in October 2007, correct? Not 2008.

    jake on August 29th, 2007 at 9:03 am - Permalink

  2. So we yet have another Video Portal to visit

    should of stuck with ClownCo ……

    Matt_ on August 29th, 2007 at 9:17 am - Permalink

  3. [...] that time is now: NBC Universal and News Corp. proudly christen their online video joint venture YouTube ‘killer… [...]

    Insider Chatter by Donna Bogatin » Clown Co? NO: Hulu! NBC, News Corp. Christen YouTube ‘Killer’ JV on August 29th, 2007 at 9:32 am - Permalink

  4. Hulu violates cardinal rule of naming

    And as if that wasn’t bad enough, they went and violated the cardinal rule of naming: they told you it was supposed to be fun.

    hypocritical on August 29th, 2007 at 9:39 am - Permalink

  5. You mean private beta in October 2007.

    Sporker on August 29th, 2007 at 9:48 am - Permalink

  6. [...] real news is here: NewCo finally gets a name: Hulu.  Also read: CenterNetworks,  Silicon Alley Insider and Mashable! Technorati Tags: online [...]

    Hulu. Mahalo. Aloha. | Zoli’s Blog on August 29th, 2007 at 9:55 am - Permalink

  7. I actually got through to the new Communications lead at Hulu for a brief chat a couple of minutes ago. Check it out at http://jburg.typepad.com/future/2007/08/clownco-is-now-.html .

    Jon Burg on August 29th, 2007 at 10:55 am - Permalink

  8. I’m really looking forward to the launch of Hula. I think anything that has this much weight behind it is going to make a splash.

    I just hope that it creates a fun environment where a new bread of digital artists and independent producers, directors, writers and actors can create viral videos and earn more than just a living. We need more market places that we can share online videos and be rewarded for our work. Hopefully Hula will be such a place.

    Tim Street on August 29th, 2007 at 11:01 am - Permalink

  9. Hey, that’s Hulu you dork!

    • Just thought I would beat someone else to this comment.
    Tim Street on August 29th, 2007 at 11:03 am - Permalink

  10. What is the most important in the ad supported Internet TV space is content and HULU will have some of the most desirable content that on TV and possibly movies .

    As long as Hulu make the content easily accessible (it has to be easier to get than pirated content ) then they will win the TV “piracy” battle it also needs to be in one place and not a series of branded websites like is currently the case .

    At the moment Joost is still the leader in the space and if News Corp and NBCU are smart they should also sign Joost up as a distributor of their Hulu content then I can find all my content in one place ;)

    Matt_ on August 29th, 2007 at 12:59 pm - Permalink

  11. [...] Om has some good additional details on the name on [...]

    Breaking: News Corp. and NBC Universal Unveil Official Name for Online Video Venture  »TechAddress on August 29th, 2007 at 1:34 pm - Permalink

  12. [...] by Om Malik Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 1:37 PM PT | No comments NewTeeVee: NewCo finally gets a name: Hulu. Let the jokes [...]

    GigaNET Headline: Hula, Tesla & A-to-Z of BioFuels « GigaOM on August 29th, 2007 at 1:38 pm - Permalink

  13. [...] Om has some good additional details on the name on [...]

    Zoho Launches Start Page: Zoho Start  »TechAddress on August 29th, 2007 at 1:56 pm - Permalink

  14. “Hulu” is Indonesian for “butt” and Lozi for “old.” I guess it does capture the spirit of the service they’re building.

    Double Banger on August 29th, 2007 at 2:59 pm - Permalink

  15. http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/Malay/hulu

    Double Banger on August 29th, 2007 at 2:59 pm - Permalink

  16. wow, amazing what a little research will turn up! nice work.

    Liz Gannes on August 29th, 2007 at 3:25 pm - Permalink

  17. [...] now a decision has been reached. In news that is well overdue, NBC and News Corp. have now announced an official name for their [...]

    News Corp. And NBC’s Video Venture Is Named Hulu on August 29th, 2007 at 3:47 pm - Permalink

  18. Hulu?
    Huknew?

    Thomas on August 29th, 2007 at 8:50 pm - Permalink

  19. [...] now a decision has been reached. In news that is well overdue, NBC and News Corp. have now announced an official name for their [...]

    News Corp. And NBC’s Video Venture Is Named Hulu « iBrian on August 29th, 2007 at 9:55 pm - Permalink

  20. [...] GigaOm: NewCo finally gets a name: Hulu. [...]

    » News to know: Vista SP1; Apple patch; Yahoo reorg | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com on August 30th, 2007 at 3:26 am - Permalink

  21. it is a 4 letter word, the second letter is u. one part of it is where you take a leak. the other sounds like a UN organisation, or better, distinctly chinese. while you are at it, and your mum calls, your girlfriend picks the phone, she is most likely to say “who, loo”…

    vinay on August 30th, 2007 at 5:04 am - Permalink

  22. [...] succeeds because it serves all niches. Wallstrip succeeds because it serves a particular niche. By contrast, Hulu wants to help you “find and enjoy the world’s premier content.” That mission [...]

    Hulu, Screw You. on August 30th, 2007 at 7:59 am - Permalink

  23. hulu will be a household word in a few months and a verb after that. “I hulued last night with some friends and a case of beer.” There will be no dance or hoop involved.

    Mo on August 30th, 2007 at 8:01 am - Permalink

  24. @ Double Banger - genius, my friend.

    danny on August 30th, 2007 at 8:32 pm - Permalink

  25. [...] a series of pushed back launch dates, Hulu is crossing the starting line before the end of its promised October of 2007. The company also cut some last-minute deals over the weekend, adding Sony television shows only at [...]

    Hulu Debuts to Meet Foes and Find Friends « NewTeeVee on October 28th, 2007 at 9:07 pm - Permalink

  26. [...] a series of pushed back launch dates, Hulu is crossing the starting line before the end of its promised October of 2007. The company also cut some last-minute deals over the weekend, adding Sony television shows only at [...]

      Hulu debut — Instant Web Meetings.COM - Video Conference, Collaboration, E Learning, Unified Communications on October 28th, 2007 at 10:21 pm - Permalink

  27. Hulu is a stupid name indeed, but the service is great. I don’t have a login or invite (can someone send me one?)
    I’ve been watching the streaming hulu videos at http://streamingtveps.com/

    ZacD on November 20th, 2007 at 12:07 pm - Permalink

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