HULU to start charging in 2010...

[Professor Zoom]

Re: content provider models

There's no point to paying for Hulu for "fewer" ads when I have netflix.

Netflix is not the next-day business model of almost-live television. It's a different model. It's much more of a print magazine subscription model as the revenue Hulu & the TV content producers get are the advertising and the subscription fees.

True. Netflix isn't next day. And I'm TOTALLY fine with that. I have enough to watch and read that I can wait a few months for a DVD release (which seems to get shorter and shorter all the time) or watch it streaming from my TV commercial free. Which is paying for online content--without commercials.

I also have cable with a DVR, so what commercials there are I can fast forward.

So, this service doesn't interest me, and I don't think it will interest others.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

There's no Hulu or Netflix here, and I find that I spend less and less time in front of a TV or computer screen and more and more time in theaters watching flesh-and-blood people perform in front of me.

 

[Sakrysta]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Much as I love Hulu, I won't pay for it. I'll stick with what's offered for free for as long as it's free. Once it's no longer free (which seems inevitable) I'll watch via other free means (fancast, network sites, etc.) or wait for DVDs.

ETA: That said, I would love to be able to use Hulu with my iPhone. That's the ONE element of Hulu Plus that tempts me. But that one convenience is in no way worth $10 per month.

 

[nevermore]

This post pertains to USA only:
Will you ditch cable television and get a 'rabbit ears' antenna for over-the-air HDTV service and supplement it with Hulu Plus?

I ditched cable 10 years ago. I will continue to watch things on Hulu Regular, or just wait til the DVD comes out.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I already pay to get shows w/no ads. It's called Netflix. What is Hulu doing that Netflix doesn't?

New shows, presumably?

Eh, if I wanted to pay to get shows right away, I could subscribe to HBO or wherever they come from. Hulu isn't doing anything new by asking you to pay for first-run shows. Anyone with a cable subscription is doing that already.

And if you want to pay to get first-run shows with no ads, that's what TiVO is for (not to mention cable companies' DVRs). The problem here is that Hulu has no USP (Unique Sales Propositon for those of you who don't work in marketing).

I brought this up on the Future of Trek thread poll provider for new Trek series as original series download.
The discussion covers paying for a subscription for a season of a future Star Trek series similar to a sports tv Season Pass for your football team if you have moved across the country. If it is no advertising it is a model similar to fans paying for production

That's a different concept - as if Hulu were creating its own original content not available elsewhere. That wouldn't work because Hulu's puny revenues couldn't support the cost of a decent Star Trek series. They could start funding original productions but they'd be cheap, cheesy stuff, and they'd never be able to afford the rights to the Star Trek name.

 

[bigdaddy]

Re: content provider models

There's no point to paying for Hulu for "fewer" ads when I have netflix.

Netflix is not the next-day business model of almost-live television. It's a different model. It's much more of a print magazine subscription model as the revenue Hulu & the TV content producers get are the advertising and the subscription fees.

But who would pay $10 a month to see shows you can for free, and they still have ads?

It is the current consumer mindset of 'free'. It is advertiser supported currently.

But free Hulu will still have "next day service". All you paying $10 a month for is less commericials, which means it's still advertiser supported, for a full season of shows. For $120 a year you can buy the DVDs you want.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Re: HULU to lower price for Hulu Plus?

I guess Hulu realized the cost was too high along with the sponsored advertising the 'customer' is required to view...

Hulu is planning on slashing subscription costs from $9.95 a month to $4.95 a month which would bring it down to a more appropriate price.

http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20101021/hulu-plus-take-two-hows-4-95-a-month/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/hulu-plus-dropping-to-4-95-per-month-thats-what-she-said/

 

[Mr Light]

But you can still watch it for free, right?

 

[Starbreaker]

Yes