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Viacom Wants Fewer People To Watch Their TV shows
Decides to yank Stewart, Colbert from Hulu...
by Karl Bode Wednesday 03-Mar-2010 tags: Video · alternatives · Op/Ed · content
Viacom has decided that the best way to increase viewership of some of their Comedy Central properties -- is apparently to let fewer broadband users see it. Claiming they were "unable to make the digital media dollars add up to their liking," the New York Times states that Viacom will be pulling "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," and "The Colbert Report" from Hulu next week. In a blog post, Hulu Senior VP of content and distribution states that viewership for both shows was very strong, though Comedy Central and Viacom weren't willing to extend the licenses:

In the past 21 months, we’ve had very strong results for both Hulu and Comedy Central, in terms of the views and revenue we’ve generated, thanks to a couple of key trends. First, more and more of our viewers have voted with their time by making these shows a regular part of their day. And second, we’ve driven steadily increasing revenue per view as advertisers voted with their budgets to take advantage of innovative ad formats and very strong advertising effectiveness. After a series of discussions with the team at Comedy Central, though, we ultimately were unable to secure the rights to extend these shows for a much longer period of time.

Of course Viacom is probably assuming that the Hulu users will simply leave Hulu and head over to the Comedy Central website, where the shows are also hosted. But Hulu users (who'll be notified of the change later today) might as easily flock to BitTorrent websites to get the shows for free -- without ads or restrictions. Again, when you're trying to combat piracy, making your content less accessible isn't a particularly smart idea.

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crazyk4952
Premium
join:2002-02-04
united state
kudos:1

Piracy

It seems like if you want to counteract piracy, you would want to make it easier to get the content legally. But what do I know, I am just the average idiot consumer....
Da Man

join:2008-05-08
Hanover, PA

Re: Piracy

It will still be available at thedailyshow.com/colbertnation.com. There is a link to others site at the top and they have a link to the episodes on the front page so IMO this way is actually easier.

ThrowDemsOut
If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4

Re: Piracy

said by Da Man:

It will still be available at thedailyshow.com/colbertnation.com. There is a link to others site at the top and they have a link to the episodes on the front page so IMO this way is actually easier.
I'm not sure it is EASIER. It can be viewed at their own sites, but by just putting it there they will only get already existing fans of their show. If they want to get NEW fans, they would be better off leaving it on Hulu, where they have a better chance of garnering new viewers for their TV shows.
Kiljoy616

join:2010-02-21
Miami, FL
Its not easier Viacom, Hulu aggregates all these shows Viacom and others making it easier for people to go to one place and view. One thing I hate is having to have 5 links to different web sites with different ways of implementing their UI to watch something.

I for one like Hulu and would like to keep watching it and only it. Take it away and fine I am sure I will watch other things, in the end watching TV is a no brainer and one thing is as good as another, non of it will matter in the scheme of my life.

SLD
Premium
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA

1 edit

I don't have cable

I won't watch those shows if they are only available on cable, and I'm not really interested in loading Comedy Central.com on my Media Center PC.

BF69
Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

Re: I don't have cable

said by SLD:

I won't watch those shows if they are only available on cable, and I'm not really interested in loading Comedy Central.com on my Media Center PC.
I think most people would like one site to go to to see all their stuff instead of several. Not quite sure what's hard to understand about that?

C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium
join:2001-10-03
Davenport, FL

Re: I don't have cable

All the forced ads that they can make you watch in order to get to watch what you actually wanted to watch in the first place.

It's one reason I don't go on tonight show/late night.com to go watch the episodes there anymore. Their shit keeps getting screwed up by adblock, but I refuse to put up with 10 minutes of ads for five minutes of broadcast.

So now, I don't... by not going there anymore.
--
Front Line Force Fortress Forever
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3

Re: I don't have cable

So what you all are saying is that "unless you get for free, what everyone else pays for, you don't want to watch it?" ... That's perfectly fine.. but remember, those ads you care less about are what is paying for you to be able to watch it for "free"..

C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium
join:2001-10-03
Davenport, FL

Re: I don't have cable

said by fiberguy:

So what you all are saying is that "unless you get for free, what everyone else pays for, you don't want to watch it?" ... That's perfectly fine.. but remember, those ads you care less about are what is paying for you to be able to watch it for "free"..
That's not what I am saying at all.

But because of the way that those ads are scripted/programmed, they won't let the content play unless they're done "playing". Adblock as it is, won't even let them load. So it's basically in a constantly trapped loop, and thus I never get to actually see the show in the first place. So what am I really losing then?
--
Front Line Force Fortress Forever
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3

Re: I don't have cable

The ads, that you'd like to block or bypass, are the very thing that allows you to get the content.. That's the deal.. in order to get the content for free, you have to watch the whole ad. My attitude is simple.. the fact I have a windows based operating system, I start the show, know the ads have to play for about 15, 30, or 60 seconds.. I go do something else and when it's time, I start watching. It's a small price to pay to watch something for free.

And you do get to watch the content...

Murdoc
Premium
join:2009-02-08
Manitowoc, WI
I pay for cable, why the hell am I seeing 5 minutes of ads and not even 10 minutes of show? I am not paying them to show ads!

Noah Vail
Son made my Avatar
Premium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Bright House
·Sprint Mobile Br..

1 edit

Darn! DARN! DARN! DARN!

No Jon Stewart on demand? No Colbert Report 24/7?

Now I'll be forced to rely on the remaining 99% of the media to get my anti-conservative mind washing.

TANJ!

NV

pfew. saved myself before the grammar nazis got a hold of me.
--
In my perfect religion, a giant hole appears and sucks up all the lousy people.
I call it the Crapture.

optemino

join:2009-10-13
Patterson, CA

Silly Viacom

Silly Viacom, tricks are for kids! ....
no seriously, I haven't sat down in front of the TV in like a MONTH. I don't have cable, and the last thing I saw was Shrek 2.

So I'm not gonna watch your network television, I'm gonna watch my favorite shows on HULU !!
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Silly Viacom

said by optemino:

So I'm not gonna watch your network television, I'm gonna watch my favorite shows on HULU !!
Or Comedy Central's website?
chimera

join:2009-06-09
Washington, DC
Reviews:
·Comcast

Re: Silly Viacom

Their site is a bit of a pain IMO. I like having these showed queued up so I can watch a load of them at a time. Plus when I use Hulu I can have a full screen display thanks to Hulu desktop and do something else on my other monitor like searching the web or working.
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Silly Viacom

But if you have the choice of Comedy Central's website to watch these shows or Hulu to not have access to these shows, which will you choose?

Noah Vail
Son made my Avatar
Premium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Bright House
·Sprint Mobile Br..

Re: Silly Viacom

said by openbox9:

But if you have the choice of Comedy Central's website to watch these shows or Hulu to not have access to these shows, which will you choose?
Oh, that's too easy.

HULU! HULU! HULU! HULU!

NV!
--
In my perfect religion, a giant hole appears and sucks up all the lousy people.
I call it the Crapture.
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Silly Viacom

Personally, I choose neither. I don't care for Hulu and I've never watched Comedy Central.

Gbcue
Almost P.E.
Premium
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:8
Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
said by openbox9:

But if you have the choice of Comedy Central's website to watch these shows or Hulu to not have access to these shows, which will you choose?
What about TVs that have HULU widgets and not comedy central widgets?
--
My Blog 2.0
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Silly Viacom

What about them? They don't really change the choice in the question. What TVs have Hulu widgets anyway?

Gbcue
Almost P.E.
Premium
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:8
Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse

Re: Silly Viacom

said by openbox9:

What about them? They don't really change the choice in the question. What TVs have Hulu widgets anyway?
Lots of TVs. Just like the ability to stream netflix, go to flickr, facebook, etc.
--
My Blog 2.0
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Silly Viacom

Thanks for not answering my question. Can you provide specific makes/models because Google isn't being kind to me.
eco
Premium
join:2001-11-28
Wilmington, DE
There aren't any TVs with Hulu built in, I don't know what you think you're talking about...

Gbcue
Almost P.E.
Premium
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:8
Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse

Re: Silly Viacom

said by eco:

There aren't any TVs with Hulu built in, I don't know what you think you're talking about...
I'm talking about TVs, set top boxes, etc. Like Roku, Popcorn Hour, Samsung TVs, Sony TVs, LG TVs, etc.
--
My Blog 2.0

Morac

join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Comcast

Re: Silly Viacom

said by Gbcue:

said by eco:

There aren't any TVs with Hulu built in, I don't know what you think you're talking about...
I'm talking about TVs, set top boxes, etc. Like Roku, Popcorn Hour, Samsung TVs, Sony TVs, LG TVs, etc.
I'll repeat what Gbcue said. None of those devices have Hulu on them. Netflix and Amazon yes. Hulu no.
--

The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired.

ThrowDemsOut
If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4
said by eco:

There aren't any TVs with Hulu built in, I don't know what you think you're talking about...
My LCD TV has a Nintendo Wii attached and I get Hulu, CBS, Netflix, etc thru it using software on my Desktop called PlayOn TV that streams the shows to the WII wirelessly thru the wireless router.
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Silly Viacom

There are a lot of STB, or equivalent, capabilities have have everything you mentioned, and a whole lot more. I have a Mac Mini running Plex hooked up to my TV and the available content is abundant. I'm still curious what actual TV/monitor has a Hulu capability built in that Gbcue See Profile continues to reference.

ThrowDemsOut
If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4

Re: Silly Viacom

said by openbox9:

There are a lot of STB, or equivalent, capabilities have have everything you mentioned, and a whole lot more. I have a Mac Mini running Plex hooked up to my TV and the available content is abundant. I'm still curious what actual TV/monitor has a Hulu capability built in that Gbcue See Profile continues to reference.
There are a bunch of LCD TVs for sale that have what they call "Internet Apps" access. And their ads imply you can go anywhere on the internet. Whether Hulu lets them access their web site is the question, since Hulu seems to check the browser ID info and device type before allowing access.
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Silly Viacom

said by ThrowDemsOut:

Whether Hulu lets them access their web site is the question, since Hulu seems to check the browser ID info and device type before allowing access.
And that's the crux of my question. Hulu "widgets" all seem tied to "traditional" computers (at least that's my perception from the Hulu website). So, can anyone point me to a TV/monitor that has a valid and authorized capability to directly display Hulu content?
ffink20001

join:2002-12-18
Norwich, CT
said by ThrowDemsOut:

said by eco:

There aren't any TVs with Hulu built in, I don't know what you think you're talking about...
My LCD TV has a Nintendo Wii attached and I get Hulu, CBS, Netflix, etc thru it using software on my Desktop called PlayOn TV that streams the shows to the WII wirelessly thru the wireless router.
to bad you wont be getting that in HD threw your WII lol

ThrowDemsOut
If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4

Re: Silly Viacom

said by ffink20001:

said by ThrowDemsOut:

said by eco:

There aren't any TVs with Hulu built in, I don't know what you think you're talking about...
My LCD TV has a Nintendo Wii attached and I get Hulu, CBS, Netflix, etc thru it using software on my Desktop called PlayOn TV that streams the shows to the WII wirelessly thru the wireless router.
to bad you wont be getting that in HD threw your WII lol
I get 480p which looks fine when playing the old tv series from the sixties I like. Like WKRP in Cincinnati; Barney Miller; etc.

AlexNYC

join:2001-06-02
Edwards, CO
There are many TV's with Hulu access for example most new Sony's with BRAVIA Internet Video Link have it built-in and you can buy and add just the module for other models.

Do your homework before posting "ignorance" for the world to see.

Morac

join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Comcast

Re: Silly Viacom

said by AlexNYC:

There are many TV's with Hulu access for example most new Sony's with BRAVIA Internet Video Link have it built-in and you can buy and add just the module for other models.

Do your homework before posting "ignorance" for the world to see.
I have a Bravia Internet Video Link on my Sony TV. There are a lot of "channels" on the device (Amazon, Slacker, Netflix, Yahoo, Blip.TV, YouTube, etc), but Hulu is definitely not one of them.

Maybe you should do your homework before posting "ignorance" for the world to see.
--

The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired.
k1ll3rdr4g0n

join:2005-03-19
Homer Glen, IL

1 edit
said by openbox9:

What about them? They don't really change the choice in the question. What TVs have Hulu widgets anyway?
Popcorn hour
Plus many other set top boxes.

I take that back, Hulu specifically doesn't want their service to be used on set top boxes.
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Silly Viacom

That's not a TV
chimera

join:2009-06-09
Washington, DC
In my case the answer often is that I just watch a different show. I like my recreational time to be nice and easy.
Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
good thing there are torrents. sure its bad to support piracy but its not as bad because in this case it is the company that shut off a totally legit online method.

these are cases where i have no support at all for the content owners. its like when a music company pulls out of iTunes(because making loads of effort free money isnt as good as shitloads of money from robbery priced CDs) and then cries to big daddy Senator to make more anti-piracy laws.
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

1 edit

OH NO!!!

I feel I have missed out, I have missed another way I can not watch either one of these crappy shows. Maybe that is why Viacom is not making any money, Crap shows = No Money.
Now if Viacom came up with something along the lines of "The Naked News" they might make some money.
--
I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.
- Mark Twain in Eruption

See 20 replies to this post
mobbo

join:2005-04-13
Denton, TX

Horrible decision

I don't grasp the arguement the idiots at Viacom make that pulling the shows from Hulu is the best decision. The ads on Hulu are more effective because A) you can't skip over them, B) they can be highly targeted to a specific demographic, C) they can be interactive, and D) the viewer is already online and can explore the advertised product quicker than someone sitting on their couch. I know it seems like only a fraction of their viewership is impacted by this (mostly people like you and me who can setup an HTPC and watch internet video on our TV's), but as an IT professional who works on my co-workers computers in my spare time, I'm getting more and more requests from non-techie users to set them up with a HTPC rig so they can cancel their cable bill. I can only hope that very soon, decisions like these will actually affect a large number of people, enough to be heard.

BF69
Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

Re: Horrible decision

These media companies refusing to embrace the internet is like the same crap they did with the VCR 30+ years ago. Once they actuall gave in and embraced it instead of fighting it they made BILLIONS. Imagine if they actually had killed the VCR how many of these companies would even exist without all that extra revenue? How many movies wouldn't have gotten made becuase the movie studios wouldn't have had the home video market revenue to rely on? Many movies only make a profit after it's released on DVD or it still loses money it loses less.
mobbo

join:2005-04-13
Denton, TX

Re: Horrible decision

Haha you think they might hire a Historian or something? Or maybe they'll just keep repeating the past. Hell... they don't even need a Historian if they look at the CURRENT music industry!!
antidelldude

join:2003-12-22
Rochester, MI
Reviews:
·Comcast

Viacom need's to get with the 21st

What a shame Viacom. I greatly enjoyed sitting down on my couch and catching up on both shows via Boxee via Hulu. I especially enjoyed what ad's it picked for me. Now I'll just have to DVR it and fast forward through the commercials to show my distaste for this bad decision.
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1

Re: Viacom need's to get with the 21st

said by antidelldude:

Now I'll just have to DVR it and fast forward through the commercials to show my distaste for this bad decision.
I'm sure your pay TV provider's continued patronage to Viacom will really hurt Viacom's feelings. Not sure you're really making an appropriate statement that's in the benefit of what you wish to accomplish.
chimera

join:2009-06-09
Washington, DC
Reviews:
·Comcast

Re: Viacom need's to get with the 21st

His argument seems to be that normal TV commercials are now worth less (per viewer) than web comercials since skipping them has become a trivial task thanks to his DVR whereas a thirty second targeted spot on Hulu can't be skipped is more likely to engage the viewer and (to extend on his argument) doesn't give him as much time to say leave and go to the bathroom (the old way to skip ads).

whitestormy

@bankersx.com

whats the big deal?

who cares what site you watch it on. you still get to watch it for free when ever you want. why would i all of a sudden think 'well if i can't watch it on hulu streaming then i will pirate it even though there is a perfectly good working source to watch it streaming'

this isn't viacom wanting less people to watch their shows. THEY STILL OFFER IT FOR FREE ON THEIR WEB SITE. if they wanted less people to watch it they would have pulled it from online all together. why should they lose potential advertising dollars directly to their competition? i am surprised they let it be on hulu for as long as they did.

See 9 replies to this post
EdmundGerber

join:2010-01-04

Bah

Usenet > Hulu

Hulu is a US only joke - there are many TV sites that stream content far better than hulu.

AlexNYC

join:2001-06-02
Edwards, CO

That's OK

That's OK, it's just one more thing for me to download from my favorite BT tracker. Dumb VIACOM ...

Van
Premium
join:2009-07-08
New Orleans, LA

People are going to watch clips of the

Daily Show/CR whether Viacom agrees to the Hulu deal or not

Why they think this will be "better" for them is....I mean, someone tell me.

I thought the clips on Hulu were brilliant as they got MANY friends of mine into the shows.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction

join:2002-01-22
00000
Reviews:
·Charter

They want to kill Hulu

It's clear someone wants Hulu gone. That's too bad, really. It's a good universal platform for all types of tv/movie streaming. It bypasses the annoying learning curve for each provider's website (ABC vs CBS vs FOX vs NBC) and simplifies it as much as possible.

Oh well. Looks like "THEY" still don't get it.
Sammer

join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA

Re: They want to kill Hulu

and they will, it's just a matter of time. Hulu isn't making the content providers the money they want so they will all pull their content from Hulu eventually. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Van
Premium
join:2009-07-08
New Orleans, LA

Re: They want to kill Hulu

And move it to their own sites with hour long ads to watch 30 second clips

Yippie

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
I'm sure we'll see future legislation enforcing more draconian copyright laws and anti-net neutrality provisions against internet streaming videos on the grounds of piracy.

Companies like Viacom will then announce "We tried streaming video, but there wasn't a market for it--- consumers weren't interested..... The Pay-per-view TV model needs to be enforced on the Internet by law...."
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini

jester121
Premium
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL

The sky may not be falling

Did anyone consider the possibility that they ended the hulu deal because they're in negotiations with someone else, or trying to work a better deal?
jus10

join:2009-08-04
Sterling, VA
Reviews:
·Comcast

*Yawn*

quote:
Of course Viacom is probably assuming that the Hulu users will simply leave Hulu and head over to the Comedy Central website, where the shows are also hosted. But Hulu users (who'll be notified of the change later today) might as easily flock to BitTorrent websites to get the shows for free -- without ads or restrictions.
*Yawn*. No, I'll continue to just click the Daily Show button on my HTPC and never notice the difference. Who care's where the media comes from.

tivo2ipod

@rr.com

Re: *Yawn*

Which HTPC software are you using - sounds like a cool feature - I want to do that.

BBBanditRuR
Dingbits

join:2009-06-02
Parachute, CO
Reviews:
·Comcast

Dolts...

I'm not giving up Hulu due to Viacom's lack of understanding of how the Internet and digital media work...

To Viacom:

Ahem...

1. I like Hulu's delivery method.
2. I like Hulu's Desktop software.
3. I like to be able to watch shows on Hulu.
4. I don't like when you take things away from me for no reason other than your inability to adapt/understand technology and trends.
5. I'll go watch whatever I want anyway, with or without you.

aciddrink

join:2000-08-26
Lexington, KY
Reviews:
·Insight Communic..
·Windstream
·Comcast

Heh

Well, if I watch a TV show on the internet (hulu), its because I didn't have time to watch it on TV. Just because they take their shows off Hulu doesn't mean I'll magically have time to watch it on TV.

BTW. Thank god pirating TV shows is so easy

adam2222

@cox.net

hulu vs CS.com

Besides the aforementioned arguments against taking it off hulu, for some reason Daily show has really low volume levels on comedy centrals website. If you're trying to watch it on laptop speakers, it can be hard to hear. It's a little better on hulu.

Also, for those of you that say "The daily show is crap!", etc. obviously, some people disagree, as it is their highest rated show (along with south park when it is on). Jon has been on it for 10 years now and i'm guessing they want him to keep doing it until he's in his 80s if he would.
ashman454

join:2004-03-10
Manassas, VA

Sounds like

Viacom shoots itself in the foot. It actually reminds me a little bit of Eric Cartman from South Park.....Screw you guys, I'm going home.

I wonder if they've ever heard that some money is better than no money? They seem to be taking the same approach as the music industry and we all see how they complain that it's the customers fault the industry is suffering, not the industry's fault. Beauty of a decisions people!

maartena
Elmo
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
kudos:1

LOL!

Viacom doesn't realize that those who use Hulu instead of using a TV to watch programming, will just as easily turn to piracy to get the shows?
--
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!"

Snakeoil
Ignore Button. The coward's feature.
Premium
join:2000-08-05
Mentor, OH
kudos:1
Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
·magicjack.com

Some networks have links to their sites at hulu

I have noticed that a few networks [TBS show leverage] aren't hosted at Hulu. You click on a link at Hulu's site and it takes you to the network site to watch the show.
Now big deal, just 1 extra hoop to hop thru to watch the show legally online.
Are they removing even the linking to the shows at comedy central, or just the show itself?

Ya viacom is being a tad peckish, but it is their shows.
--
Care Bear This: If anything I say offends you, then you have a problem. As I am a stranger to you, so my words should have zero emotional impact on you. If they do, please seek help from Dr. Phil.

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