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Unlock the Secrets: Top 11 Hulu Fun Facts You Never Knew You Needed to Know

illustration of hulu
Dive into the lesser-known side of your favorite streaming service with these binge-worthy fun facts about Hulu!

1. Name Origins

You'd be forgiven for thinking "Hulu" was a long-lost cousin of the Hula Hoop or the result of a fierce Scrabble game gone awry: The name, contrary to popular belief, has no relation to the Mandarin word for "interactive recording" or "holder of precious things". In truth, Hulu's former CEO, Jason Kilar, states that the name was chosen for its catchiness, brevity, and ease of spelling. Linguists were even hired to ensure the moniker lacked negative connotations in any language, so the next time someone offers a mythical Mandarin origin story, you'll have the true Hulu scoop to share.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Calabash Connection

Who would've thought calabash was a recipe for success in streaming shows? No, we're not gourding you: Hulu actually got its name from a Mandarin Chinese proverb where "Hulu" means "calabash" or "bottle gourd", symbolizing a holder of precious things. Founder Jason Kilar found the perfect ingredient in this metaphor to represent the company's dedication to premium content.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

3. Emmy Award Triumph

Move over Hollywood, there's a new sheriff in town and it comes bearing a gift...of dystopia: In 2017, Hulu became the first streaming service to snatch the coveted Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series with its bone-chilling dar(k)ling, The Handmaid's Tale. In a smooth sweep, the horrifyingly relevant series stormed home with ten Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series!
Source => press.hulu.com

4. Media Mogul Mashup

Hulu: the lovechild of major media moguls who decided to get along for once and create an entertainment wonderland – and boy, did they deliver: With powerhouse partnerships like Fox, Disney, and CBS in its arsenal, Hulu boasts a vast library of TV shows and movies from networks like ABC, FX, and even premium cable channels like Showtime, while also cranking out original hits like The Handmaid's Tale and Ramy, proving it's not just a one-trick streaming pony.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Ownership Hot Potato

5. Ownership Hot Potato

Like a game of high-stakes hot potato, Hulu's ownership has switched hands more times than a white elephant gift at a holiday party: Today, it's The Walt Disney Company holding a 67% majority slice of the streaming pie, with Comcast (through NBCUniversal) clinging on to a 33% minority stake, which is pending sale to Disney. No Alphabet soup here, as the tech giant sits this game out!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Beating FOMO

In a world where FOMO strikes faster than lightning, Hulu emerges as the superhero for binge-watchers who can't afford to be fashionably late to the TV party: Hulu offers next-day viewing of popular TV programs from networks like ABC, NBC, and Fox, making it perfect for cord-cutters who want to stay current on their favorite shows, while Netflix can lag behind for up to a year or more.
Source => diffen.com

7. Ad-Free Costs

If Hulu were a restaurant, they'd be the kind that offers a complimentary bread basket, but makes you pay extra for garlic butter: Hulu's ad-free subscription tier is 50 percent more expensive than their original plan, even more pricey than Netflix, whereas their free service offers limited content for computers, and they're expanding their menu with deals like the one they recently struck with Epix to offer popular movies and original programming.
Source => techcrunch.com

8. Live TV Battle

Step aside, Netflix and chill – it's time for a Hulu hoedown: Hulu entered the live TV streaming showdown in 2017, giving the likes of Sling TV, Vue, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Now a run for their money, and boasting an impressive 47 million unique viewers as of May that year.
Source => techcrunch.com

9. Anime Haven in Japan

In a land far, far away known as Hulu Japan, anime fans unite and American Hulu users weep: The Japanese version of Hulu is overflowing with exclusive Japanese titles, thanks to Nippon TV's 2014 acquisition of the platform. Despair not, fellow streamers, for with a trusty VPN like NordVPN, IPVanish, or Express VPN, you too can access this hidden treasure trove, no matter where your journey takes you.
Source => outlookindia.com

Couch Athlete's Dream

10. Couch Athlete's Dream

Are your sports-watching senses tingling, or is that just the smell of stale stadium nachos? Maybe it's time to unleash your inner couch athlete and embrace the world of live sports streaming: Hulu + Live TV not only offers live sports from your favorite teams and leagues, but also dishes out personalized game recommendations, supports simultaneous streaming on two devices, and comes with Unlimited DVR to record all the action for your binge-worthy athletic marathons!
Source => hulu.com

11. Imagine Entertainment Collab

From rappers to rocketships, Imagine Entertainment's got the beats and the brains: The same masterminds behind A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 also collaborate with Hulu on original television series, like Wu-Tang: An American Saga, which is a drama series based on the true story of the Wu-Tang Clan's origins in New York City.
Source => washingtonpost.com

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