Hulu Commissions Its First Original Scripted Programming January 16, 2012, 2:04 pm The online video service Hulu, most of whose programming consists of material licensed from television and film companies, has commissioned its first original script-based program, which is scheduled to be available on Hulu's free Web service, rather than its premium pay Hulu Plus site, as of next month. Called "Battleground," the series is described as a documentary-style political drama set in Wisconsin - which in real life has emerged as a frontline in the fight between liberals and conservatives since the Republican governor Scott Walker took office a year ago. Hulu already produces a documentary series, Morgan Spurlock's "Day in the Life," and the new effort is seen as moving the service closer to direct competition with cable television. The Media Decoder blog has more here.