Hulu expands partnership with MGM, gets streaming rights to ‘Fargo’

It’s a season of giving -- or getting SVOD rights -- over at Hulu.

The subscription video on demand site is getting more friendly with MGM, closing a deal that expands its library of content from MGM’s portfolio of titles, including gaining exclusive streaming rights to this year’s critical favorite “Fargo.”

All 10-episode first season, which starred Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, will be available to stream on Hulu in 2015. The anthology drama, which was renewed for a second installment on FX, is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions, with MGM Television serving as the lead studio and worldwide distributor of the series.

In addition to “Fargo,” Hulu has also licensed from MGM every episode of History’s period drama “Vikings.”

Old favorites are also finding a home on the streaming site. The expanded SVOD deal also gives Hulu multiyear, nonexclusive licensing rights to many classic MGM titles -- totaling more than 1,500 episodes -- including sci-fi series “Stargate,” cult drama “Thirtysomething,” and nostalgic productions such as “Green Acres” and “The Addams Family,” as well as family and kids’ titles such as “All Dogs Go to Heaven.”

Hulu’s head of content, Craig Erwich, lauded its coup with the FX drama, which racked up a hefty 18 Emmy nominations this year and is a multi-Golden Globe nominee, and exulted that the “expanded partnership with MGM brings even more hit titles to Hulu.”

The deal follows Thursday’s announcement of Hulu’s multiyear pact with FX productions, which gives it exclusive SVOD rights to a selection of new and upcoming shows across FX Networks, including “Tyrant” and “You’re the Worst.”

Twitter: @villarrealy