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Hulu, Lionsgate team up on original series with a ghostly twist

As the battle for original content continues, Hulu strikes a deal with the studio behind hits like "Mad Men," "Nurse Jackie," and "Orange is the New Black."

Donna Tam Staff Writer / News
Donna Tam covers Amazon and other fun stuff for CNET News. She is a San Francisco native who enjoys feasting, merrymaking, checking her Gmail and reading her Kindle.
Donna Tam
Hulu

The competition for original Web content continues with Hulu and Lionsgate Television set to produce a new original series for the video-streaming site.

Hulu announced Tuesday that it has teamed up with the studio to create 10-episodes of "Deadbeat," a comedy about a medium who helps New York's ghosts, for its 2014 lineup. In addition to Netflix's popular "Orange is the New Black," Lionsgate is the studio behind hits like AMC's "Mad Men" and Showtime's "Nurse Jackie."

It's a good partnership for Hulu who is battling the likes of Amazon and Netflix for original and exclusive content. Amazon has its own studio and signed an exclusive contract for several seasons of the PBS hit "Downton Abbey," while Netflix's original series "House of Cards" surprised the TV industry with 14 Emmy nominations.

It's also worth noting that "Deadbeat" has some talent behind it. Produced by Dakota Pictures and Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment, "Deadbeat" was co-created by Cody Heller and Brett Konner, who created "Wilfred" and "The Inbetweeners." The series will be directed by Troy Miller of "Flight of the Conchords" and "Arrested Development" fame.

The series is expected to start production in the fall and arrive on Hulu and Hulu Plus in the US next year, while Lionsgate will distribute the series internationally.