NEW YORK (

TheStreet

) --

Google

(GOOG) - Get Report

is reportedly in preliminary talks to purchase

Hulu

.

The Los Angeles Times

reported on Friday that the streaming video company has met with potential buyers, which aside from Google include

Yahoo!

(YHOO)

and

Microsoft

(MSFT) - Get Report

, to generate interest.

>6 Potential Bidders For Hulu

Google's YouTube has been itching to get its hands on some prime digital content, and a merger with Hulu would give the company this premium programming.

The Internet giant also has been trying to gain traction with Google TV, having made a few small acquisitions in recent months, Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce wrote in a note last month.

Most recently, Google bought SageTV, which provides an alternative software option to Windows Media Center. SageTV has developed software that allows users to watch TV programs, either live or recorded, remotely on another device.

The first version of Google TV hasn't been well received, but it looks like a new version is currently in the works.

Hulu, whose owners include

News Corp.

(NWSA) - Get Report

,

Walt Disney

(DIS) - Get Report

,

Comcast'S

(CMCSA) - Get Report

NBC Universal and private-equity firm Providence Equity Partners, previously hired financial advisors Morgan Stanley and Guggenheim Partners.

Buyout chatter surfaced in June when

The Los Angeles Times

said that Hulu had been approached by a bidder.

-

Reported by Jeanine Poggi in New York.

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