Search giant Google is reportedly in talks to purchase TV streaming service Hulu.
After receiving an unsolicited offer from Yahoo last week it was largely expected that other players in the online game would step up and attempt to buy the service which streams shows from the most popular TV networks.
While the Yahoo offer was not confirmed sources “close to the deal” now say that Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have made offers and that Hulu officers have setup meetings with their financial advisers Morgan Stanley and Guggenheim Partners and all interested parties on a one-on-one basis.
With Hulu projected to bring in $500 million in 2011 revenue both through advertising and Hulu Premium subscriptions and a user base topping 28 million viewers per month offers are expected to be in the billions with Bloomberg putting the buy price somewhere in the vicinity of $2 billion.
If Google can manage to pull off the acquisition it would mean they are one step closers to dominating the online video streaming sector which they already practically own thanks to their YouTube platform. The Google acquisition and their “know-how” in the video streaming business could also mean a better platform in the future, run by a company that understands the space.
At this time everything is conjecture and only a deal being revealed will prove that any real offers were made.
