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Comments on news posted 2010-10-19 11:18:14: As part of an ingenious plan to block additional eyeballs from viewing their advertisements, Hulu has decided to block all versions of Google TV from reaching their content online -- be it via the new Logitech Revue, or GoogleTV-embedded televisions. ..

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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

1 recommendation

morbo

Member

Goodbye Hulu

It's sad that the entertainment industry's hope for widespread market penetration that they control will now fail.

In the meantime, cutting the cord is looking more and more tempting.

ctceo
Premium Member
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN

ctceo

Premium Member

Re: Goodbye Hulu

Don't let them fool you, they just want the PENETRATION. Lube free.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

1 recommendation

cableties

Premium Member

He who owns...

..the content, controls the content! Or licenses it ...

Right?

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: He who owns...

said by cableties:

..the content, controls the content! Or licenses it ...

Right?
Here are the current owners:

NBC Universal, News Corp., The Walt Disney Company, Providence Equity Partners

Since News Corp is an owner of Hulu, is it surprising that they sided with Fox over Cablevision?

SSX4life
Hello World
Premium Member
join:2004-02-13

1 edit

SSX4life to cableties

Premium Member

to cableties
said by cableties:

..the content, controls the content! Or licenses it ...

Right?
Correct

But he who kills the golden goose has no right to lobby / cheat/ complain / "buy laws" / etc. as an excuse for not continuing to innovate.

Drive your customers away... smart move.

p.s. hulu is free though boxee with no issues.
majortom1029
join:2006-10-19
Medford, NY

majortom1029

Member

hmm

I find it funny that companies who are supposed to be about profit do things to make as little profit as possible. Since hulu makes money from ads arent they supposed to make it so as many people as possible see the ads?

If I were the sponsors i would drop my ads from hulu since they are doing this.
innoman
-
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
Seattle, WA

innoman

Premium Member

Re: hmm

so are advertisers paying per impression? I wonder how it works. Well i am curious I guess... if I really wanted to know, I could probably research it ...

markofmayhem
Why not now?
Premium Member
join:2004-04-08
Pittsburgh, PA

markofmayhem to majortom1029

Premium Member

to majortom1029
It depends, as always, the devil is in the details...

As long as Hulu is an alternative to "didn't see it" instead of "didn't watch/record it on my local affiliate when it aired", then yes, the advertising is an increase in revenue. If you watch Hulu INSTEAD of the local affiliate, then Hulu is a loss in revenue. For now, we'll see how much longer these networks use the affiliate distribution model...

WhyADuck
Premium Member
join:2003-03-05

WhyADuck

Premium Member

But who needs local affiliates anyway?

I HATE local affiliates for the most part, particularly when they interrupt the network programming you want to see for some local bulletin you couldn't case less about (usually because it's for some other place than where you actually live), or splash big blocky graphics on the screen (or worse yet, put the network content in a small frame so they can display school closings until the middle of the day), or pre-empt a network or syndicated program you usually watch to bring you a special on a new addition at a local hospital, or maybe some olde phart preacher that paid for the time. I hate them because they take beautiful HD programming off the satellite and compress the crap out of it so it looks horrible, or the take the standard def version of a network so they can squeeze three or four programs onto one channel (and make them all look horrible).

There is only one thing that local affiliates do semi-well, and that is local news for the (usually major) city in which they are licensed. If you live outside the city limits you are lucky to get 30 seconds of news that applies to you. But there is no reason they could not just record that three or four times a day and put it on a video stream (many stations already put their local news online).

There are only three things that services like Boxee, Hulu, etc. don't do just as well as the local stations. One is video quality (compared to a station that doesn't compress everything as much as possible), and the online feeds keep bringing the quality up. One is live feeds (where was the coverage of the recent miner's rescue in real-time? Had to go to CNN's site in a web browser for that), and one is local news. The reason the latter is probably not up on Boxee, etc. is probably because every news station has their own format for putting their news online. I'll bet that as Boxee and similar programs/devices get more popular, they will come up with some standard method for content providers to feed content to them, and the local news stations will figure out how to use it (with local commercials included, of course). Also, there is the potential for more competition in local news, because others (such as newspapers) would be able to get in the game, and also news providers could have separate feeds for different cities (so even if your city doesn't have a TV station, you might actually get a few minutes of truly local news).

Also there should be an easy way to display text and mixed text/graphic content. For example, remember the aforementioned school closings? Why can't I create a custom feed, and with the click of a button, see a display of schools close to my zip code with their open/closed status? If I'm a parent, I only need to see the school closing information once per day, not all morning long. As for weather and other urgent alerts, I'm sure some government bureaucrat is hard at work trying to figure out some way to force those on us whether we want them or not, and eventually video devices that tie into the Internet will probably be required to pass those along (at least they'll probably pause the program before displaying the alert, unlike the local broadcasters that just walk all over whatever you're trying to watch).

Local affiliates were a necessary and useful thing... back in the 1950's and 1960's. Now they are about as useful as a candlestick telephone set. Networks are not much better; about the only thing they add nowadays is promotion of new shows so you know they are out there. There is no reason whatsoever that new series could not be released entirely online (skipping both the networks and the local affiliates), but the only problem today is that you probably would not find out about them except through word of mouth or some type of recommendation from a friend. Most of these software packages and set-top boxes are in SERIOUS need of an easy to use program guide, and program recommendation service (maybe something like Pandora, but for video clips?).

skuv
@rr.com

skuv to majortom1029

Anon

to majortom1029
said by majortom1029:

I find it funny that companies who are supposed to be about profit do things to make as little profit as possible. Since hulu makes money from ads arent they supposed to make it so as many people as possible see the ads?

If I were the sponsors i would drop my ads from hulu since they are doing this.
Yes, they want people to see the ads, but the CONTENT PROVIDERS that own Hulu make more in ad revenue when the shows run on television for the first time. So they don't want Hulu to be too easy to watch on a real television so that people are not watching the real ad spots that are making them money.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

offered consumers content they were already getting for free

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.

xirian
Premium Member
join:2003-01-26
Beacon, NY

xirian

Premium Member

Re: offered consumers content they were already getting for free

said by 88615298:

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.
Everything that says its available in HD will only give me a max of 480p, I dont even see a 720p choice in the settings with hulu plus.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: offered consumers content they were already getting for free

said by xirian:

said by 88615298:

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.
Everything that says its available in HD will only give me a max of 480p, I dont even see a 720p choice in the settings with hulu plus.
Sounds like an issue with you. Also it's still in beta.

xirian
Premium Member
join:2003-01-26
Beacon, NY

xirian

Premium Member

Re: offered consumers content they were already getting for free

said by 88615298:

said by xirian:

said by 88615298:

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.
Everything that says its available in HD will only give me a max of 480p, I dont even see a 720p choice in the settings with hulu plus.
Sounds like an issue with you. Also it's still in beta.
Guess it was. I had to clear my cache to fix it... kind of a weird issue.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:
said by xirian:
said by 88615298:

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.
Everything that says its available in HD will only give me a max of 480p, I dont even see a 720p choice in the settings with hulu plus.
Sounds like an issue with you. Also it's still in beta.
So we get to pay extra for a product in beta? Sounds like a bargain.
mlundin
join:2001-03-27
Lawrence, KS

mlundin to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

Sounds like an issue with you. Also it's still in beta.
Does that mean they're taking money that's still in beta? If so, maybe I'll sign on - I've got some here in this old box for Monopoly...

Gbcue
Premium Member
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA

4 recommendations

Gbcue to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.
Piracy can give me all that for free.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

2 recommendations

dvd536

Premium Member

Re: offered consumers content they were already getting for free

said by Gbcue:
said by 88615298:

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.
Piracy can give me all that for free.
And NO ADS to boot!
innoman
-
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
Seattle, WA

1 edit

innoman

Premium Member

Re: offered consumers content they were already getting for free

HELLO tvtorrents.com! All the shows I want, usually with in minutes of being aired and no commercials!

note: I am all out of invites for the next couple of months.

Mannus
Premium Member
join:2005-10-25
Fort Wayne, IN

Mannus

Premium Member

Re: offered consumers content they were already getting for free

said by innoman:

HELLO tvtorrents.com! All the shows I want, usually with in minutes of being aired and no commercials!

note: I am all out of invites for the next couple of months.
Don't forget EZTV.it!
innoman
-
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
Seattle, WA

innoman

Premium Member

Re: offered consumers content they were already getting for free

I've never used it... I'll have to check it out! :-D The pirate bay always comes in handy too, when you want something older that you don't want to waste your GCredits on.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned) to Gbcue

Member

to Gbcue
said by Gbcue:

said by 88615298:

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.
Piracy can give me all that for free.
Shoplifting can give me free stuff at wal-mart. Doesn't mean I should do it. I can a free TV by breaking into my neightbors house when they are on vacation. Doesn't mean I should do that either.

Gbcue
Premium Member
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA

Gbcue

Premium Member

Re: offered consumers content they were already getting for free

said by 88615298:

said by Gbcue:

said by 88615298:

More hyperbole.

Can you get 720P on regular Hulu? no. Can you get full seasons on regular Hulu? No. So for someone that is looking for HD and more than just the 5 current episodes Hulu plus cold be quite value.
Piracy can give me all that for free.
Shoplifting can give me free stuff at wal-mart. Doesn't mean I should do it. I can a free TV by breaking into my neightbors house when they are on vacation. Doesn't mean I should do that either.
Shoplifting != piracy - this argument never works.

These shows are already free OTA. All that is happening is recording and replayed at a different time, like a DVR.
mlundin
join:2001-03-27
Lawrence, KS

mlundin to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
Indeed, someday someone will eventually realize that there are those of us who would gladly pay a reasonable (read: small) fee or suffer through commercials if they'd just do a decent job providing content and concentrate on what consumers want instead of bickering about what hardware/software/data-pipeline is going to be used to access it.

Snakeoil
Ignore Button. The coward's feature.
Premium Member
join:2000-08-05
united state

Snakeoil to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
Problem is the TV programs that are broadcasted OTA are "free".

Fox/Hulu is driving people to pirate these shows because of Fox's dumb ass approach in handling the issue.

disconnected
@snet.net

disconnected to 88615298

Anon

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

Shoplifting can give me free stuff at wal-mart. Doesn't mean I should do it. I can a free TV by breaking into my neightbors house when they are on vacation. Doesn't mean I should do that either.
What's wrong with stealing? That's how the government finances its operations. If it's good enough for Uncle Sam and your local town, it must be good enough for us.

Selenia
Gentoo Convert
Premium Member
join:2006-09-22
Fort Smith, AR

Selenia to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
I bought Hulu Plus today and must say I'm happy thus far. Plenty of 720p video on almost all of the newer content. Even better(which is only obvious when searching for something in particular) it has whole seasons and many more episodes of a given program. To me, who can hardly get any HD where I live now and still have expensive TVs I want to enjoy, this is perfect for avoiding pirating everything I find worth watching. For those curious, it's because of LoS with the satellites. Only DirectTV and Dish will serve me and with only a couple compressed-to-hell HD channels. I can't see the other satellites. Cable around here is very fuzzy analog that reminds me of the 80s. However, I do get Verizon DSL and decent EVDO Rev A service on Verizon wireless. The 720p video has been very clean and sharp. For me, it's an answer I was in need of. Sometimes, the advantage of internet based stuff is reach. Karl's opinion is slanted on this one. I feel the extras I'm getting is worth $9.99/month. Especially since it adds many shows in HD that I would otherwise have to torrent to see in HD. Yet, he acts like Hulu is just taking peoples' money and running.
sheezyfromba
join:2002-08-03
Las Vegas, NV

1 recommendation

sheezyfromba

Member

Already cut the cord a while ago

It is infuriating that their is no real alternative, I do not want nor need 20 Spanish channels 15 ESPN's when all I want is maybe sci-fi, comedy central and maybe a handful of others. I do not want to pay for the rest of the crap, and their is still no IPTV competition due to monopolistic practices. Well I know some may not approve, but until they want to enable a REAL solution instead of just trying to rip off everyone, my torrents will do just fine.
wavesound
join:2002-01-24
Bolton, MA

wavesound

Member

Joint Venture

Hulu's a joint venture between Fox, NBC and ABC.

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulu

Its hard to see how hulu would be the "disrupter" described in the article when its parent companies are the broadcasters that the article's author targets... I would prefer everything open and available to all, but that just isn't the way its going to be...
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Joint Venture

It seems everyone wants all their cable channels on the internet and avialable for nothing which is hardly realistic. You have to make chocies. Either pay the high prices the cable/sat companies charge or cancell and live with more limited choices. All these networks are going to go with the delivery method that makes them the best ROI. If offering stuff online ADDS to the bottom line, sure they'll offer it. If online becomes more profitable than the current methods of distribution you bet that's where they'll go to.
TheGhost
Premium Member
join:2003-01-03
Lake Forest, IL

TheGhost

Premium Member

Re: Joint Venture

said by 88615298:

It seems everyone wants all their cable channels on the internet and avialable for nothing which is hardly realistic. You have to make chocies. Either pay the high prices the cable/sat companies charge or cancell and live with more limited choices. All these networks are going to go with the delivery method that makes them the best ROI. If offering stuff online ADDS to the bottom line, sure they'll offer it. If online becomes more profitable than the current methods of distribution you bet that's where they'll go to.
The thing is, they are already there - Hulu is just deciding what type of device you can watch it on.

I wonder if this is more of a network dig at Google (wanting them to fail) vs. actually trying to "protect" content. Some stated it works with Boxee, so how would a Google browser be any different?

••••
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

It seems everyone wants all their cable channels on the internet and avialable for nothing which is hardly realistic. You have to make chocies. Either pay the high prices the cable/sat companies charge or cancell and live with more limited choices. All these networks are going to go with the delivery method that makes them the best ROI. If offering stuff online ADDS to the bottom line, sure they'll offer it. If online becomes more profitable than the current methods of distribution you bet that's where they'll go to.
I don't you'd find anyone who wants their channels "for nothing".

They just don't want to pay several times for the same content, or pay for content / channels / networks that they don't watch.

Note that this doesn't mean ala carte would cost less - nor does it need to. Americans will pay more for actual or perceived quality. They will pay for choice.
majortom1029
join:2006-10-19
Medford, NY

majortom1029 to wavesound

Member

to wavesound
The thing is on cablevision using their vod I get the episodes of abc and nbc shows so my only reason for using hulu is fox's shows.

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Disruption

I don't see where Hulu ever said that they wanted to shift viewers away from Cable.

••••

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536

Premium Member

I don't get it

people are seeing your ads on google TV, WHY do you even care what device they're using to view it?

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: I don't get it

I think it's about getting google to agre to a liecnse/repackage agreement, just like HULU has with some other outlets that use HULU content.
HULU is desperate to find a new revenue source to support new&improved content to try and be competitive with other (googTV, netflix, etc.) online sources.
The orginal "1- 15 second commerial" (later 2 or more) isn't paying the bills anymore.
I beta tested HULU in early 2007 (before it had the hulu name) and it ws originally concived as a pay-per-view move channel, later when the download code system proved unworkable first run movies were dropped and the TV/RERUN/old movie with few ads model emerged, which worked for a few years until everyone jumped on the download bandwagon. as far as ad insertion they still do a better job (ad placed were the tv show was designed to have an ad) than some of the network video sites (Comedy central is particularly annoying placing their ads, sometimes in mid sentence or clipping out part of the show for space. )

markofmayhem
Why not now?
Premium Member
join:2004-04-08
Pittsburgh, PA

markofmayhem to dvd536

Premium Member

to dvd536
Because if Hulu direct from the TV off the retail shelf with no computer knowledge what-so-ever crowd stops watching affiliates, ad revenue will plummet and the networks will be forced to change and adapt quickly. Hulu can kill affiliates if available to the masses (it currently is NOT available to the masses, as most people don't "want to watch TV on the little computer screen" and have no idea how to get a computer hooked up to a TV). Hulu is supposed to be a supplement to syndication revenue, not a replacement to broadcast revenue. When Hulu threatens the current distribution model, it gets knocked down.
axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC

axus

Member

Hulu can do what they want

I'm not paying them $$$, they could shut their doors tomorrow and I wouldn't feel slighted. I'm grateful for all the TV shows I've caught up on

Really, Hulu hasn't prevented me from getting cable, I made that choice before I got Hulu. They HAVE prevented me from getting a Tivo or making my own DVR. If Hulu goes away, I'll probably get a DVR as a present.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

The entertainment industry supports "Piracy"

First off I put piracy in quotes because downloading TV shows is honestly a gray area to begin with.

But really? these big entertainment firms bitch and cry about people torrenting shows and then they go and take what could be a big hit for them and cut it off. They are honestly showing how poor they are at being businessmen when they cut off another possible revenue stream of eyeballs seeing ad content.

Of course nobody has ever credited the entertainment industry for being good at handling innovation ever through their entire history. Keep in mind way way back in time they went ballistic over the Player Piano, which at its time was likely seen as cool as Hulu is to us here in the 21st century.
axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC

axus

Member

Re: The entertainment industry supports "Piracy"

Downloading TV shows is unauthorized distribution. The broadcasters (and Hulu) have a license to send out the shows for free.

treetop1000
join:2003-11-07
Lexington, KY

treetop1000

Member

"Hulu is dead to me. You hear that? Dead."

Some people here in the family have the opinion that Hulu just got "educated" by those IP lawyers working for the RIAA and the MPAA.
Something to the effect of "you cannot steal what is being given away for free", so stop giving it away for free."
It makes our position look ludicrous and self serving.

buzz_4_20
join:2003-09-20
Dover, NH
(Software) Sophos UTM Home Edition
Ruckus R310

buzz_4_20

Member

Rock and a Hard Place

While as an end user I see many things that Hulu could do, but I also know what kind of bloodsuckers are controlling the content so all I can say is that Hulu is stuck and a pretty bad place.

Hulu is trying to make TV easier to watch for consumers.

Content providers want to preserve cable while trying to reach out using new technology. But are unwilling to RISK anything are are being controlling like an abusive spouse.

Hulu has to do what it can to please the content providers or it's got nothing to offer customers. They want to get on TVs, but they can't and keep receiving content.
qworster
join:2001-11-25
Bryn Mawr, PA

qworster

Member

Hulu's owned by NBC, right?

Hulu's owned by NBC. right? To me, that explains it all-NBC works hard to make things fail. As an example, look at the great ratings they have (not!).

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Re: Hulu's owned by NBC, right?

said by qworster:

Hulu's owned by NBC. right? To me, that explains it all-NBC works hard to make things fail. As an example, look at the great ratings they have (not!).
Hulu is a joint venture between NBC, news corporation, abc and I think a few others.

Riusaki
join:2000-09-14
Space

1 recommendation

Riusaki

Member

Piracy and BitTorrent win again...

This is so funny how the Once again the industry is successfully driving people to piracy and I for one embrace it. The only streaming I will ever pay for is Netflix. Whatever is not on Netflix will be torrented, plain and simple.

••••

Bill Neilson
Premium Member
join:2009-07-08
Alexandria, VA

Bill Neilson

Premium Member

Eh, I have Hulu Plus and enjoy streaming it

off my PS3 but after a month, I am ditching it

Just not worth more than 1-2 months and the ad's are laughably long for a paying customer

ASSHAT
@myvzw.com

ASSHAT

Anon

Hulu

Thats what Napster Thought......(didn't work out so well for them).

notyet321
@verizon.net

notyet321

Anon

Why bother, hulu?

Given that any PC can connect to a big screen, HD TV/monitor (like mine) without doing anything really special, I don't really see the point in hulu or their content "partners" bothering with these little blocks in the first place. But, hey, when you're stupid and wimpy, you just do what you're told.
slckusr
Premium Member
join:2003-03-17
Greenville, SC

1 edit

slckusr

Premium Member

HULU PLUS

Access HULU from your googleTV using our HULU PLUS service. Only 9.95 ontop of the premium your cable co is charging to have access to your googletv box.

I Personally watch repeats on HULU or when there is nothing else on my DISH.

Or i turn my TV's computer on and watch HULU on the big screen.
Heated Man
join:2009-06-18
Cleveland, OH

Heated Man

Member

HAHAAHAH

HAHAHAHAHHA Glad to see all you cord cuters learning your lesson. This Hulu and all like it will fail.

hg
@ku.edu

hg

Anon

Licensing issues

They block hulu on mobile devices, etc. because of licensing issues. Ie. The tv shows on Hulu are only licensed for viewing on a web page, through a web browser on a traditional computer.

NickD
Premium Member
join:2000-11-17
Princeton Junction, NJ

NickD

Premium Member

Re: Licensing issues

said by hg :

They block hulu on mobile devices, etc. because of licensing issues. Ie. The tv shows on Hulu are only licensed for viewing on a web page, through a web browser on a traditional computer.
That's easily foiled by spoofing the user-agent
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