For Hulu: A+E Is in, Viacom out

Hulu, the video-streaming service, will carry six cable channels from A+E Networks including the History network in its upcoming live TV package, and has decided not to offer networks from Viacom Inc.

The accord gives Los Angeles-based Hulu a wealth of unscripted live and on-demand programming from the millennial-oriented Viceland to the more grown-up fare on A&E Network and Lifetime, according to the companies.

The online service was unable to come to terms with Viacom, the owner of Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.

A+E and Viacom are jockeying for spots in new online TV services to stem subscriber losses as more consumers watch TV shows and movies on the web instead of paying for cable. The History Channel has lost almost 8 million subscribers since the start of 2013, while Viacom's Comedy Central has shed nearly 9 million, according to Nielsen data and Bloomberg Intelligence.

The companies earn a monthly fee for each subscriber, so the losses hurt.

Viacom had no immediate comment.

Adding A+E will let Hulu subscribers watch scripted shows such as History's 'Vikings” and reality programming such as 'Project Runway” as they're airing on TV instead of waiting until later. 'Having our top six networks available on their core package speaks to the power of our entertainment portfolio in reaching men, women, adults and millennials,” A+E CEO Nancy Dubuc said in a statement.

Hulu, owned by four of the world's largest media companies, will introduce a service with more than 40 live channels for less than $40 a month within the next couple of months, according to the company. The package will include its existing on-demand service, which offers reruns of popular shows such as 'This Is Us” and 'Blackish,” as well as original programming including 'The Path” and 'Casual.”

With the service, Hulu will be competing with AT&T's DirecTV Now, Dish Network Corp.'s Sling TV and Sony's PlayStation Vue in offering a smaller, low-cost bundle of channels. YouTube, owned by Google, expects to be out with its service in the next few months.