Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
#51
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
For example, if you subscribe to The Office or Parks and Recreation, you will get an e-mail when a new episode has been added to your playlist.
#52
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Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
Oh ok, that sounds cool. I was about to sign up and I started wondering what all I could do with it. And thank Gawd for late night posters.
#53
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
you can set up a queue of shows you want to keep an eye out for, and you;'ll get emails when a particular show is about to get booted from the hulu rotation. also, having an actual account is the only way you can get the PlayOn program to recognize hulu so you can watch the shows on your regular television through a device like a ps3 or 360
#54
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
There are also some shows that you have be a certain age to watch. Always Sunny in Philadelphia comes to mind. I had to get an account to watch that show.
#56
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Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
Thanks for the posts.
#57
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
Slightly OT but still Hulu related. Has anyone ever watched any of the movies yet? I'm watching one now for the first time(via Playon and PS3) and for some reason when commercials hit they are 10x louder than the movie I'm watching. I swear I almost blew out my speakers when the first one hit. It just came out of nowhere about 2min. into the movie. I've had about 5 of them so far(about 45min into the movie now) and every single one of them is extremely loud. I'm hoping this is a fluke with the movie I'm watching as it could get really annoying after a while.
#58
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
Could be a fluke with the movie, maybe the volume is set too low. In my experience, commercials are usually about the same volume as the show I’m watching.
#59
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/...-in-a-word-no/
A source close to Hulu, however, tells EW that the site remains steadfastly committed to free content, explaining that any possible subscription or pay-per-view service has no set timeline and would only build upon what Hulu offers, not replace it.
#61
DVD Talk Legend
#62
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
Chicago Tribune article on Hulu
chicagotribune.com
At Hulu, free may soon turn into fee
By Dawn C. Chmielewski and Alex Pham, Tribune Newspapers
January 28, 2010
LOS ANGELES
— Hulu soared to popularity by offering free online viewing of popular TV shows. Now, that free ride soon may end.
The Internet video site is weighing plans to charge users to watch episodes of "30 Rock," "Modern Family" and "House." The move would mark a sharp change of course for the venture, which was launched nearly two years ago by a consortium of studios to distribute without charge TV shows and movies over the Internet.
The site has spent months studying how to strike a balance between what people expect to watch for free online and for what they would be willing to pay, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.
One plan under consideration would allow users to view the five most recent episodes of TV shows for free, but require a subscription of $4.99 a month to watch older episodes. Hulu believes it will need at least 20 TV series, both current and those no longer on the air, to make such a pay service attractive to users. A firm pricing model could emerge within six months.
A Hulu spokeswoman declined to comment.
Hulu's plan to charge for some programs comes as many publishers are similarly grappling over how to get people to pay for online content they've long gotten for free.
In a development that could have implications for embattled newspapers, the New York Times Co. recently unveiled its plan to charge online readers for stories. The Times will adopt a "metered" approach, starting next year, in which users can read a limited number of articles before being charged.
Hulu and the Times join a growing lineup of companies that are building pay walls around their content.
Internet radio company Pandora Media Inc. recently started charging users a monthly fee of 99 cents if they listened to more than 40 hours per month.
"The economic reality of any type of content is that you need people to put some money into the tip jar," said Tim Westergren, founder of the company.
That imperative has grown as advertising dollars flooding online is expected to slow. Research firm eMarketer estimates that online advertising will grow 40 percent this year, down from a 127 percent increase last year.
Boxee Inc., a company that lets people pipe Netflix movies, YouTube videos, Pandora music and other online media directly to their TVs, recently introduced a way for studios and publishers to charge for on-demand content rather than rely on advertising.
"This lets content owners dictate the way they want to sell online," said Andrew Kippen, Boxee's vice president of marketing. "There will be more content available online, and there's not going to be one clear way to win. What we're saying is, work with us to try out some different business models and see what works."
Analysts say Hulu may be preparing to deliver its video service through the array of Internet-connected TVs, game consoles and other devices that were on display everywhere at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
"The whole reason Hulu needs to consider a subscription model is that the long-term play for online video is not to computers, it's to a collection of other devices: connected TVs, video game consoles," said Forrester Research media analyst James McQuivey.
Indeed, Netflix has found that an increasing percentage of its subscribers use an on-demand service to watch movies through Internet-connected video game consoles, Blu-ray players and other devices connected to the TV.
Hulu, a partnership between NBC Universal, News Corp., Walt Disney Co. and Providence Equity Partners, has emerged as an Internet darling — and a thorn in the side of some investors who see the site not as a defense against piracy or video phenomenon YouTube but as a threat to the economics of the television business.
Cable operators, in particular, protested Hulu allowing free Internet access to shows like FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" or USA Networks' "Psych," which were previously available only to their subscribers. Hulu responded by reining in online access to certain cable programs.
Many media analysts expect that Comcast Corp.'s plan to buy controlling interest in NBC Universal will give it a significant say in the future of online video and accelerate Hulu's move to a subscription service.
For newspapers, the announcement by The New York Times could likewise accelerate a move to requiring readers to pay for online access.
It's not the first time the company tried to get readers to pony up. It ended its TimesSelect online subscription program in 2007, even though the effort generated $10 million a year in revenue.
"We've learned several things from TimesSelect," said Times spokeswoman Diane McNulty. Among them: People will pay for content online, McNulty said, and that publishers "have to carefully weigh the benefits of an advertising and a subscription model."
The company has seen the part of its revenue coming from selling ads on its digital properties grow from 4 percent in 2004 to 13.4 percent in the first nine months of 2009.
"The New York Times is very smart," said Mike Vorhaus, president of media consultant Magid Advisors. "The person who comes once or twice for a really big news article is never going to become a payer, so let's not try to force them. Let's not try to make a sheep into a cow. The most frequent viewers should be paying the most."
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
At Hulu, free may soon turn into fee
By Dawn C. Chmielewski and Alex Pham, Tribune Newspapers
January 28, 2010
LOS ANGELES
— Hulu soared to popularity by offering free online viewing of popular TV shows. Now, that free ride soon may end.
The Internet video site is weighing plans to charge users to watch episodes of "30 Rock," "Modern Family" and "House." The move would mark a sharp change of course for the venture, which was launched nearly two years ago by a consortium of studios to distribute without charge TV shows and movies over the Internet.
The site has spent months studying how to strike a balance between what people expect to watch for free online and for what they would be willing to pay, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.
One plan under consideration would allow users to view the five most recent episodes of TV shows for free, but require a subscription of $4.99 a month to watch older episodes. Hulu believes it will need at least 20 TV series, both current and those no longer on the air, to make such a pay service attractive to users. A firm pricing model could emerge within six months.
A Hulu spokeswoman declined to comment.
Hulu's plan to charge for some programs comes as many publishers are similarly grappling over how to get people to pay for online content they've long gotten for free.
In a development that could have implications for embattled newspapers, the New York Times Co. recently unveiled its plan to charge online readers for stories. The Times will adopt a "metered" approach, starting next year, in which users can read a limited number of articles before being charged.
Hulu and the Times join a growing lineup of companies that are building pay walls around their content.
Internet radio company Pandora Media Inc. recently started charging users a monthly fee of 99 cents if they listened to more than 40 hours per month.
"The economic reality of any type of content is that you need people to put some money into the tip jar," said Tim Westergren, founder of the company.
That imperative has grown as advertising dollars flooding online is expected to slow. Research firm eMarketer estimates that online advertising will grow 40 percent this year, down from a 127 percent increase last year.
Boxee Inc., a company that lets people pipe Netflix movies, YouTube videos, Pandora music and other online media directly to their TVs, recently introduced a way for studios and publishers to charge for on-demand content rather than rely on advertising.
"This lets content owners dictate the way they want to sell online," said Andrew Kippen, Boxee's vice president of marketing. "There will be more content available online, and there's not going to be one clear way to win. What we're saying is, work with us to try out some different business models and see what works."
Analysts say Hulu may be preparing to deliver its video service through the array of Internet-connected TVs, game consoles and other devices that were on display everywhere at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
"The whole reason Hulu needs to consider a subscription model is that the long-term play for online video is not to computers, it's to a collection of other devices: connected TVs, video game consoles," said Forrester Research media analyst James McQuivey.
Indeed, Netflix has found that an increasing percentage of its subscribers use an on-demand service to watch movies through Internet-connected video game consoles, Blu-ray players and other devices connected to the TV.
Hulu, a partnership between NBC Universal, News Corp., Walt Disney Co. and Providence Equity Partners, has emerged as an Internet darling — and a thorn in the side of some investors who see the site not as a defense against piracy or video phenomenon YouTube but as a threat to the economics of the television business.
Cable operators, in particular, protested Hulu allowing free Internet access to shows like FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" or USA Networks' "Psych," which were previously available only to their subscribers. Hulu responded by reining in online access to certain cable programs.
Many media analysts expect that Comcast Corp.'s plan to buy controlling interest in NBC Universal will give it a significant say in the future of online video and accelerate Hulu's move to a subscription service.
For newspapers, the announcement by The New York Times could likewise accelerate a move to requiring readers to pay for online access.
It's not the first time the company tried to get readers to pony up. It ended its TimesSelect online subscription program in 2007, even though the effort generated $10 million a year in revenue.
"We've learned several things from TimesSelect," said Times spokeswoman Diane McNulty. Among them: People will pay for content online, McNulty said, and that publishers "have to carefully weigh the benefits of an advertising and a subscription model."
The company has seen the part of its revenue coming from selling ads on its digital properties grow from 4 percent in 2004 to 13.4 percent in the first nine months of 2009.
"The New York Times is very smart," said Mike Vorhaus, president of media consultant Magid Advisors. "The person who comes once or twice for a really big news article is never going to become a payer, so let's not try to force them. Let's not try to make a sheep into a cow. The most frequent viewers should be paying the most."
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
#63
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
5 most recent episodes still free and $5/month for older episodes? Sounds reasonable to me. They need to beef that 20 shows figure up quite a bit though.
#64
Moderator
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
That actually is reasonable. Right now, a lot of shows only have the five most recent episodes available, with no way to see older episodes (fee or otherwise).
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#71
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Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
Most computers (even laptops) have a secondary video outlet, and most televisions have the same input. Whether it be HDMI, VGA, whatever. I have my computer hooked to my television via VGA cable. I stream Hulu seamlessly. Think outside the box.
#72
DVD Talk Legend
Yeah, Hulu was extremely hit and miss (a lot more miss) when it first came out. I really thought it would've gotten better by now.
#73
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Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
I think with Playon, your PC and Xbox must be connected to the internet at the same time, right? Then Playon excludes people like me who only can only have one device connected to the internet at the same time. I want Hulu to stream directly from Xbox live or PSN instead.
#74
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
Buy a router, problem solved.
#75
Moderator
Re: Hulu to start charging for content as early as 2010
I tried streaming Hulu through TVersity. It "worked" but it wasn't great. I'm looking for something similar in quality and convenience to Netflix on the 360, and would pay to get it.