By Tali Arbel, Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --As people increasingly turn to the Internet for their TV fix, Hulu is adding “Seinfeld” episodes and future AMC series to its lineup.
That means they won’t be on Netflix, which has far more subscribers — more than 62 million worldwide. Hulu said Wednesday it has nearly 9 million subscribers.
Hulu is an online video service owned by Disney, Twenty-First Century Fox and Comcast. It shows some TV episodes and movies for free on its site. Subscribers pay $8 a month for more content.
All “Seinfeld” episodes will be available for Hulu subscribers in June. Hulu will also have future shows from AMC Networks Inc. channels like AMC, IFC and Sundance TV, including “Fear the Walking Dead,” a spinoff of “The Walking Dead” that will air on TV this summer.
Crackle spokeswoman Naomi Bulochnikov said “Seinfeld” episodes will still be available on the site, which is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, however. Crackle streams a handful of episodes at a time for free.
Hulu’s deal for streaming rights to every episode of “Seinfeld” reportedly costs nearly $180 million to be paid to Sony TV, Castle Rock and the show’s profit participants including co-creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More