How can Hulu get access to tv shows [and all the seasons]...

Money, plenty of shows streaming only, the dvd market has collapsed, they generally just put out top shows now, I need Alf online.

it's because of music and other forms of copyrighted material used on the shows.


Copyright wise, Streaming is very similar to syndication and music and other copyrighted things used on a show, the rights aren't always affected by syndication or streaming. And Syndication and Streaming rights are different than Physical format rights and easier to obtain.

This is why the Drew Carey Show can be on Laff and Bernie Mac show can be On Bounce and netflix (even though it left recently), yet as for dvd, both shows only had the first season released.

You gotta keep in mind, shows that existed before DVD did, they couldn't obtain a license to publish the music they used onto dvd if dvd didn't even exist yet, so only a license for broadcast and syndication were obtained.

This is why newer shows like Big Bang Theory can have dvd and blu-ray season sets just months after it finishes on broadcast - they obtain the license to put it on physical format the same time they obtain the broadcast license.


But those older shows from the 90s and below (before tv shows on dvd were a thing), it's a pain in the butt financially to re-obtain the license for the music or other copyrighted material used.

This is why We'll never see The Muppet Babies on dvd. all those clips of movies and other shows the cartoon used. I could only imagine a complete series set costing at least 300 dollars retail at the least.


And if the studios are worried about low sales, then that's what the MOD (manufactured/made on demand) route is for - to make a copy only when the customer actually wants it.