In the wake of the Disney deal with Hulu, what about CBS? Hulu CEO Jason Kilar told paidContent he’d love to have CBS (NYSE: CBS) add its programming to the video service, while CBS Interactive, representing the remaining major broadcast network without a Hulu deal, issued a careful statement about controlling its own rights “in all media” to preserve value in a multi-platform business system.

Before Hulu had a name, even before it was being referred to by some wags as ClownCo, whether or not CBS would be involved was one of the big question marks. Disney (NYSE: DIS) had a stated policy to keep video on ABC.com or in its own player, making it a less likely partner back in early 2007. Led by CEO Leslie Moonves and digital head Quincy Smith. CBS was leaning towards online video ubiquity—which meant it liked the concept but not the exclusivity required to be an equity partner. Instead, the focus went toward building the CBS Audience Network; talks to include CBS in the Hulu distribution network didn’t succeed.

More from Kilar and CBS after the jump.

Circumstances changed last year when CBS acquired CNET Networks and with it, TV.com and its agreement to host video distributed by Hulu. And, as recently as last December, it looked like a direct deal of some sort between Hulu and CBS might be in sight. That shifted again earlier this year when TV.com relaunched with an emphasis on being a video portal—and Hulu pulled its content saying it was exercising “contractual rights.” One theory: this will all be solved when CBS agrees to be distributed with Hulu and Hulu agrees to come back to TV.com. Meanwhile, unlike Fancast and AOL (NYSE: TWX), TV.com doesn’t have a deal with ABC.

During an interview after the Disney deal was announced, Kilar told me the conversations with CBS all along have been more about the network’s strategy than other companies’ involvement: “They make decisions that are right for them. ... I’d love to have CBS be a part in terms of their content on Hulu. I think it would be good for our users; I think we’d be able to create a lot of value for CBS and their shareholders. ” He said conversations tend to be holistic, coveraging CBS, the Audience Network and TV.com.

The full statement from CBS: “CBS has long employed open, non-exclusive content partnerships that allow fans across the internet to engage with our programming in such a way that we control our distribution, sales and profit. We continue to discuss similar arrangements with additional partners as we grow our online audience based on the strength of our content, and the passion of the communities it creates. The Company also believes that controlling our own rights for that content—in all media—preserves its value in a multi-platform business system.”

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