Hulu Ventures Into Podcasts with Exclusive Comedy Deal

Hulu has ventured into podcast licensing, securing its first exclusive agreement with the comedy advice podcast "We're Here to Help," hosted by Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds. Beginning February 10th, the show will release new episodes twice weekly, on Sundays and Tuesdays, exclusively on Hulu.

This strategic move sees Hulu gaining streaming rights to both the existing catalog and all future episodes. New content will drop on Hulu a day before its availability on other platforms, including a soon-to-be-relaunched YouTube channel. This expansion into podcasts follows similar initiatives by competitors like Netflix, which has also been actively adding podcast content.

Launched in August 2023, "We're Here to Help" features Johnson and Reynolds offering comically misguided advice. The podcast has garnered a loyal following and featured notable guests. Prior to this deal, Hulu was already home to Jake Johnson's directorial debut film "Self Reliance" and the sitcom "New Girl."

Streaming services are increasingly looking to podcasts as a content strategy. These shows are generally cheaper to produce than traditional film and television, offering a sticky form of engagement. This trend is part of a broader competition among platforms to capture viewer attention, potentially drawing audiences away from dedicated podcast streamers like YouTube. Netflix, for instance, began streaming over 30 podcasts in January.