Launched in 2008, this joint venture of NBCUniversal, News Corp, and The Walt Disney Company originally made a name for itself by serving up thousands of TV shows and movies for free, albeit with commercials. Two years later, it introduced Hulu Plus, a premium subscription with access to a bigger catalog and the ability to watch on smart TVs, Roku players, smartphones, tablets, and video game consoles. So far, the company has met with somewhat mixed results. The company reportedly canceled a sale, unsatisfied with the bids that came in, and it also put off plans for an IPO. Still, the company remains incredibly bullish about its prospects. Revenues for 2011 climbed 60% year-over-year to $420 million, and more than 1.5 million users now pay for Hulu Plus. To fuel further growth, the company plans to invest $500 million this year on original content alone.
NEXT: Amazon Prime Instant Videos
