Hey you. Yeah, you - guy wasting company time by watching last week's episode of Heroes on Hulu. Enjoying it? Well, get ready to cough up some cash to find out what happens next.
In a move that we've all long feared was probably inevitable anyway, Chase Carey, deputy chairman of News Corp. (one of Hulu's co-owners) annouced that Hulu would begin charging users. According to Broadcasting & Cable, Hulu's fees could start as early as 2010.
You may commence booing now.
While this doesn't come as a shock, it's still a disappointment as millions have become accustomed to Hulu's crystal clear free programming with only minimal commercial interruptions.
Carey didn't offer any more than that, other than to say he thought "a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of our content." Well... duh, but it isn't completely free. As minimal as those commercial interruptions are, they're still generating income, right? It's presumably not enough given this news, but I'd rather see advertising increased before a pay model any day.
Anyway, there's nothing concrete regarding how users will be charged yet, but Carey did say that not everything would be offered for a price, so some content will still be free - as in "ad supported."
Logical guesses? There will probably be monthly passes. Maybe yearly subscriptions? Maybe pay-per-view? If that is the case, why not head over to iTunes where you at least get to keep the content after you buy it? Another possibility is starting a subscription mobile service, which actually does seem worthwhile given the increased usage of video-capable smart phones.
This also creates an interesting situation for Hulu's many partners who re-brand and offer Hulu content via their own video sites - TV Squad's parent AOL, who recently launched SlashControl, included. Will Hulu content cease to be free at these types of outlets as well?
So much for that free "TV show while I eat" lunch.
[via TV Week]
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
10-22-2009 @ 3:15PM
CMG said...
Well, first off, Carey is deputy chair at News Corp. He does not work directly for Hulu, which is part owned by NBC Universal, News Corp (FOX) and Disney (ABC). He was to a sum total of one board meeting at Hulu. Therefore, this is mostly Carey's thoughts, not so much an official statement from Hulu. So, it's not a "sky is falling" situation at this point.
It also doesn't sound like they're charging for ALL content. Note that the article says that he believes that "throwing up a pay-wall around all content is not the answer." It sounds like he's mostly interested in charging for "value added" content, basically the equivalent of DVD extras, or perhaps Hulu exclusives (web-based events/series, similar to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). What most people go to Hulu for sounds like it will remain ad-sponsored and free.
I think Hulu knows that if they try and charge for the content, many users will just flock to ways that they can get the content for free, regardless of whether those ways are legal or not.
Reply
10-22-2009 @ 3:32PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
Oh yeh, that's an Epic Fail. Big Media's greed is like a cancer that just won't stay in remission. Frankly, Hulu lost value for me when it stopped carrying ALL episodes of a series by doing this trailing-five thing. Fine, there are always "alternatives", it's just ashame though.
Reply
10-29-2009 @ 1:54PM
Really? said...
Saying "Epic Fail" is the epic fail.
Regarding your "Big Media's greed..." comment - it is hard to take you seriously, especially when you accurately point out that there are other options to watch TV content online for free. Business models are simple: if the project does not generate sufficient return on investment, either shut it down or change the model. Your comment indicates you think profiting from distributing content is somehow a bad thing.
If you are upset that the Hulu model may be changing, then clearly you see some value in it despite your contradictive statement that it has lost all value for you. Why not consider paying for it instead of complaining? If the price is too high, find an alternative. Simple!
No, you're right. Epic fail. Big corporations. Greedy. .
10-22-2009 @ 3:32PM
Robert said...
I should've been doing it before, but back to bittorrent for me. It was just more convenient to go to hulu, and I never minded the commercials. But, now I can just download the high def version of an episode and watch that.
Reply
10-22-2009 @ 3:38PM
Kevin said...
I think the only pay paying for it would work is that if you pay you do not get commercials. Plain and simple.
Reply
10-22-2009 @ 3:57PM
Christopher said...
That and updated episodes after they air the same night, and HD episodes, then maybe I would pay.
10-22-2009 @ 4:22PM
RustyDogma said...
Absolutely agree... I'm not paying for commercials. I'd rather pay for cable and use a DVR to skip them. If Hulu removes commercials, I'd pay them over Comcast.
10-22-2009 @ 4:18PM
chrissthomas said...
If they desire to crush their entire business and go out of business by the end of 2010 this sounds like a great plan. Do they really think people will pay to watch shows on Hulu and also pay their cable or satellite providers? I quit my satellite subscription to save money so I solely watch Hulu now. I love TV and would be sad but will gain many hours a week if Hulu begins to charge to use their service because I will not be tuning in.
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 8:13PM
joseph said...
exactly. if it's not 100% effective I'll go elsewhere. it's not as if they have even come close to perfecting it and I'm not gonna pay for all those stupid live feed gliches.
10-26-2009 @ 12:23AM
robba3b said...
I agree, I can't afford cable or a dish, Hulu is where I watch tv. If they start charging, they will lose another person that will visit their site. I don't mind the ads on there, they are brief (except theat freaking eyelash one latises, the one with brooke shields).
It sucks that have become just like every other media outlet...GREEEDDY. Please don't charge!!!!
10-22-2009 @ 4:33PM
adrienne said...
If this is true, I'll never watch anything on Hulu again, especially if they keep those limited commercial interruptions. I'm not watching commercials in something I pay to watch, but I'm not paying to watching anything I can't keep, either. That's why I have DVR and iTunes.
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 8:16PM
joseph said...
I'll buy the damn dvd form the diistributor before I give money to a bunch of greedy ass middle men who did nothing more than post a few links.
10-22-2009 @ 4:33PM
Christina said...
Hulu is a convenient way for me to watch multiple shows on multiple networks without having to go from one network site to another. If they start to charge, then I'll just go directly to that network site to watch for free. It'll just mean a little more inconvenience. I just hope that the networks don't decide to start charging as well.
Reply
10-22-2009 @ 4:42PM
khamel said...
i'm as cheap as the next guy but did you guys really think hulu was going to stay free forever? it would work fine if one or two people cancel their cable/sat and watched free tv on hulu but if it happens en mass AND more people are using DVRs to skip commercials the faucet is going to run dry.
I use a DVR and occasionally Hulu but are you really saying if you could get HD Hulu for $10/month with no commercials that you would really just stop watching TV? i'm sure alot of people would start torrenting or keep torrenting but theres a decent number of folks who would cancel their $50-100 cable packages and jump onboard for $10/month 'online DVR', which is what i imagine they'll try and package it as.
i travel all year for work and only watch tv on the weekends but i know i'm never canceling cable/directtv - without sports online i'm always going to be forced to keep DTV.
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 8:19PM
joseph said...
not everyone can be a bigshot, travelling the world while paying for home services they dont use.
10-25-2009 @ 9:47PM
PatrickStarfish said...
How much do you get paid, working for hulu and all?
10-26-2009 @ 3:23AM
snorkelissa said...
Give me a break people. Don't act like kindergartners. Whether he's a world-traveling big-shot or not is irrelevant --he still made some good intelligent points, which nobody else did. This is the way of the world -You should expect it. Don't be cry-babies. Also agree with CMG, hotboudain & Karen's post. Think with your heads people. Think.
10-22-2009 @ 4:43PM
Joe Brooks said...
I am willing to pay for Same Day, no commercial content. If it's day old content then it's just encouraging me to finally ponying up for DVR.
Reply
10-22-2009 @ 5:35PM
rahul said...
i agree if it's same day then i'd be willing to pay a monthly fee; however if it's the current model of delayed with commercials i think i'd just revert back to my pre-hulu behavior
10-22-2009 @ 5:34PM
hotboudain said...
Sooo many free outlets available to watch tv episodes within 24 hrs of broadcast and WITHOUT commercials. Never understood the attraction of Hulu model in the first place.
Reply