Dish Network Corp. has signed a nondisclosure agreement to investigate the financials of Hulu LLC, the online video service that is selling itself, according to two people familiar with the situation.
Dish’s move doesn’t mean it will make an offer to acquire Hulu, said the people, who wouldn’t be identified because the matter isn’t public. Apple, Google, Yahoo and AT&T also have expressed interest in the company, people familiar with the matter said this month. Dish chief executive Joseph Clayton said June 23 he may be interested in deals for companies including Hulu.
Acquisition of Hulu would continue a flurry of takeovers this year for the second-largest U.S. satellite-TV provider. Dish, based in Douglas County, already has purchased DBSD North America Inc., a satellite company that provides voice and data services, and movie-rental chain Blockbuster Inc. This month, Dish won court approval to buy mobile-communications company TerreStar Networks for $1.38 billion.
