NBC Universal

In just a year, Hulu has morphed into what is arguably the most successful television network--online. The co-venture of NBC Universal and News Corp.'s Fox already is the sixth-most-viewed online video hub, providing insights into how consumers transfer their television viewing preferences and habits to the Web. Here's what Hulu CEO Jason Kilar told MediaPost about that future.

About those plans YouTube has to show the music labels who has the upper hand, think of it like a poker game: when you're not the only game in town, it makes it easier for players to walk away from the table. Conversely, when you think your game is the only game in town that matters, you're not going to fold just keep them playing. That's why when a YouTube user tries to watch My Chemical Romance's Teenagers today, the legit versions won't be available.

CBS (NYSE: CBS) and and Time Warner's Turner Networks are in discussions about making a joint bid for the broadcast rights for 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games, AP confirmed. Both media giants caution that the talks are merely exploratory and no plans have been put in place.

Jeff Zucker says Jay Leno's new 10 p.m. show is going to be "DVR-proof." Maybe he's right. But will it be Hulu-proof?

At a press conference announcing the birth of The Jay Leno Show the other day, NBC Universal's chairman maintained that the viewers of the new program would be disinclined to fast-forward through commercials, since the show will be fresh every night.

With the near-daily flow of media industry layoffs, two big execs may get to keep their jobs, at least for a while longer.

-Hearst Magazines president Cathie Black is said to be falling out of favor with Hearst Corp. CEO Frank Bennack, in part because he thinks she used company resources to promote her memoir. Now what could make him think that? [NYP]

Is content still king? A panel of industry heavyweights agreed to disagree at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference on Wednesday. "It absolutely starts with good content," said Jason Kilar, CEO Hulu, the joint video venture between NBC Universal and News Corp. Sling Media Entertainment Group president Jason Hirschhorn, however, said the upper hand is now with content aggregation and syndication technology and platforms.

We've been hearing that layoffs are coming at the Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) Company but CFO Tom Staggs told the lunch crowd at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference not to expect the same kind of announcements made last week by Viacom (NYSE: VIA) and NBC Universal (

There are several reasons to think NBC's decision to give Jay Leno a nightly 10 p.m. show will backfire. The slot may prove too early for late-night viewers, who tend to be creatures of habit. It could create an unsustainable booking logjam as three different NBC talk shows fight for the same guests. It could sour the network's relationship with Conan O'Brien, who not so long ago was considered more important to its long-term prospects.

Jeff Zucker has solved his Jay Leno problem. But did he do it by creating an even bigger one for NBC?