Comcast's USA, Bravo, NBC added to Hulu's $40 cable-like offering

Comcast-owned NBCUniversal has reached a deal to stream its portfolio of cable networks and the NBC broadcast TV network on a new live-streaming Hulu service.

The new offering will cost $40 a month but also require a subscription to a high-speed internet service. One of many so-called "over-the-top" streaming services, it's expected to be launched later this spring.

Comcast, which has feared cannibalizing its Xfinity TV service with streamers, has now agreed to deals with seven online services to reach younger audiences. Those services are Sony PlayStation Vue, DirecTV Now, Dish's Sling, YouTube TV, fuboTV, and Layer3 TV, in addition to Hulu.

"With this agreement in place, Hulu will soon provide an affordable, complete live TV package that includes all four major broadcast networks, the top-rated cable news channels, a massive sports offering, and our deep, existing premium library for under $40" a month, Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins said in a statement.

About 50 networks will be available on the new live-streaming Hulu service, a company spokeswoman said.

Hulu — which has mostly streamed TV reruns — has about 12 million subscribers who pay $7.99 a month for the service with advertisements and $11.99 without advertisements.

Hulu is partly owned by Comcast, 21st Century Fox, the Walt Disney Co., and Time Warner.