Last week Google unexpectedly announced that it would buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. Despite this huge acquisition, Google is still in the running to buy Hulu, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Journal said bids on Hulu are due by this Wednesday. Google is reportedly competing with other tech giants that have their sights set on Hulu, including Amazon, Yahoo, and DirecTV. Bids are expected to range from $500 million to $2 billion, depending on what shows Hulu will license to the buyer.
Hulu is jointly owned by Comcast, News Corp, and Disney, which provides the streaming video site with exclusive content from its respective networks NBC, Fox, and ABC. Traditionally, those networks have added their programs to Hulu about 24 hours after they are broadcast on TV, but that time frame is one of the aspects of the sale that is reportedly up for discussion.
For example, Fox recently put its broadcast shows behind a paywall. Starting Aug. 15, users have had to wait eight days to see shows like Glee or The Simpsons, unless they can prove they’re either Hulu Plus or DISH Network subscribers. It’s unclear how this would work once Hulu is sold.
Google might be gunning for Hulu, but the Business Insider has said that Yahoo is the frontrunner to acquire the site.
“A premium video site would fit nicely into Yahoo’s media strategy,” BI noted. “As for Google, we’re somewhat surprised it wants to deal with a government review of its video business but apparently it thinks it won’t be a problem.”
In fact, Yahoo was the first company mentioned when talks of a Hulu sale began in June. At the time, Yahoo was rumored to have approached Hulu’s owners with an “unsolicited offer.” Earlier this month, All Things D’s Peter Kafka claimed that Yahoo is the "most logical buyer."
However, more details will likely be revealed later this week.