Contrary to widespread web reports, the wildly popular TV and movies streaming website Hulu is not planning to start charging for all its content — although you would certainly be forgiven for thinking so. On Oct. 21, a high-ranking exec. at News Corp., which owns Hulu along with NBC Universal and Disney, told a trade conference that “a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of [Hulu’s] content,” positing that the site could start charging as early as 2010. That was enough to get the web all Twitterpated about Hulu’s entire beloved catalog falling behind a dreaded paywall.
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. Of course, this isn’t the first time an executive from News Corp. (like, say, chairman Rupert Murdoch) has openly speculated about getting people to pay for at least some stuff on Hulu — and why wouldn’t they? Media companies were built in the 20th century by collecting money from a variety of sources and audiences — ads on broadcast TV, box office ticket sales, premium cable subscription fees, DVD purchases — so it makes sense that they would pursue the same strategy for the 21st century. Of course, given how swiftly the web masses react to even a hint that they’d actually have to pay for something on the internet, pretty much any venture in that direction in this brave, new, digital-only world is going to be an exercise in taking a step onto a vast sheet of ice and hoping it doesn’t crack wide open.
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i hope they stick to this! now if only canadians like me and everyone else around the world had access!!
No one likes Canadians. Deal with it.
That’s not true. Everyone likes Canadians, they just don’t want to be Canadian. Sorry, but true statement.
The only reason I don’t want to be Canadian is the cold and the winter darkness…otherwise it sounds lovely!
No Canadian would write this about themselves so it’s not a “true statement”. I know this may come as a shock Americans but not everyone wants to be you, but continue to believe what you want because you always have.
Good grief, I never could’ve imagined that a Canadian could engender this much negative response! Why no Canuck love, people? Yoiks.
Ummm…Everyone wants to be American. At least if they are from Africa or Latin America. Why do you think they keep coming here?
Canucks are cool!
>Amer-I-CanThu 10/29/09 10:49 AM
>Ummm…Everyone wants to be American. At least if they >are from Africa or Latin America. Why do you think they >keep coming here?
Because your standards are so low.
I don’t care for the author’s tone in the 2nd paragraph of this article. Is this a news item or an opinion piece? Forgive us Adam if we take umberage with the possibility that we might now have to pay for something we’ve enjoyed at no cost for years now. The masses have spoken and Hulu execs have clearly heard the displeasure voiced by its users and are now in damage control mode. Plenty of websites operate successfully without charging its users a fee including this one.
Years? That’s a stretch. And most business models can’t survive on a “free” basis. People open business ventures – even on the Web to (gasp) make money! For you know, employees’ income, groceries and such. Man, I LOVE free stuff! But the Internet has hit a stumbling block with its high expectation of free. People can’t make a living of of free.
Ok, a year and a half, whatever. Don’t patronize me Laura. I understand the idea of e-business. What you don’t seem to grasp is that (gasp!) e-businesses make money in different ways including advertising and partnerships. How do you think thousands of news sites survive? Do you pay to visit ew.com or cnn.com or the Huffington Post? Do you think the people who work on those sites are working for free?
RAMO – Hello?? Is there anyone there??? Those of us who pay for the magazine or cable pay for these “free” websites.
well then by the same token….
“at News Corp., which owns Hulu along with NBC Universal and Disney,”
we pay for hulu when we pay for cable
Actually, several years back,
EW’s web site access was limited to the magazine subscribers only. Could only log on by using a code found each week in the mag. LOL, that didn’t last too long. I don’t think most people were saying that hulu had to be free. hulu can do whatever it thinks will generate the most income. most were saying that if hulu charges, they won’t use the service. don’t confuse not wanting to pay for a service and expecting it to be free. two totally different ideas.
I agree, the second paragraph becomes less news and more opinion.
pity. i and probably a few others would have been more than happy to pay a reasonable amount to kill the internal ads and perhaps expand the number of episodes allowed. heck we would be willing to pay a reasonable but higher amount to be able to download a timed file to the computer or ipod etc with no ads. similar to the itunes rentals.
allowing of course that they should keep the current model for that want to do it and make the paid thing a kind of hulu plus
but now it sounds like it won’t be an available option
I actually don’t mind the commercials on hulu. In fact, I think commercials are good in moderation and hulu demonstrates this perfectly. Rather than be completely over whelmed with 5 commercials (which i can easily fast forward over with my DVR), force me to watch a single 30-60 second commercial 2 or three times that I might actually pay attention to. I think its a working format and that cable companies and networks who are still stuck in 1985 could learn a thing or two from it. (And they better learn quick before things get worse for them)
Good news everyone!!!
I would gladly pay for Hulu if it meant dollhouse would be renewed. I think it would be a fair and far superior metric than the Nielsen ratings…
Know what I’d really appreciate? If Hulu would make its content available in Canada … hmph!!!
No. Hulu runs ads, that’s their advertising $$. They’ll get nothing from me.
I pay my ISP every month which entitles me to see whatever is available on the internet.
Sing it, Sista! I refuse to pay for internet telly. Honestly ad agencies should be grateful for internet tv because it is the only way the masses are viewing their advertisements!
If you want to pay for content and have no commercials, it’s called Netflix.
And no – not everyone does love Canadians.
I love Canadians!!! And at least they have the health care system to get through those winters
Since when did this turn into a Canadian-bashing post? I am Canadian-American, and I am proud to be a citizen of BOTH countries. Pull your head out of your asses people, and stick to the topic at hand, please. Thank you.
You can’t be both! Just because you have dual citizenship doesnt mean you arent one or the other. Either you like ketchup on your fries or gravy….
Actually, I like both…
Hulu is a joint venture between News Corp (FOX), General Electric (NBC), and Disney (ABC). News Corp does not own Hulu exclusively and especially does not own NBC Universal.
epic fail
Yeah I don’t really get the snark in the 2nd paragraph either. I’d have no problem paying for something if I thought it was worth it. But Hulu seems very far away from being fee-worthy, both with content and delivery. (I wouldn’t pay to remove ads, though. I just alt tab and browse til they are over anyway.)
But if they step it up (a lot), sure why not.
Hmmm- I hated Hulu anyway. I think it’s digging it’s own grave. Are they oblivious or ignorant to the fact that there are other websites that offer free viewing? The majority of the other sites let you enjoy your full show without stopping every ten minutes for a commercial. Surf the Channel is a great site.
I think they could get away with charging for full episodes for the first week, then put things up for free after that time (which is pretty much what they’re doing now).
Was this article suppose to be news or an OpEd? The sharp (and unfair) tone is laughable. Fee-based services, such as Netflix and iTunes movie rentals already exist. Hulu offered a unique ad-based revenue model with a decent offering of television shows and movies; I hope they stay the course. It isn’t that I want everything on the Internet to be free; rather, it’s that watching older episodes of The Office and Family Guy isn’t important enough to me to pay, and if I want to watch something newer (movies, for example), I have Netflix, Movies on Demand, and iTunes rentals.