Hulu charging for content in 2010
Oct. 22nd, 2009 06:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marinessEntertainment Weekly reports that Hulu.com will start charging for content in 2010.
As a long term strategy for Hulu.com, I think this is a mistake. Largely because Hulu.com is not offering any unique content: everything is shows is either already available on regular broadcast TV (unless you are this household which hasn't gotten around to installing the little digital switcher thing so that we can see the two networks that broadcast here), cable TV (admittedly paid, but with a considerably greater selection of realtime content in better, often HD quality, although also admittedly with way too many ads, which drive me so nuts that we aren't bothering to get cable), network sites (same quality, same amount of ads, still free), iTunes (paid but better quality), Netflix, or DVDs. The only thing Hulu.com really offered was an aggregate service that meant not needing to click around to various sites. And I don't think that charging for content will do much to increase their site visitors.
As a long term strategy for Hulu.com, I think this is a mistake. Largely because Hulu.com is not offering any unique content: everything is shows is either already available on regular broadcast TV (unless you are this household which hasn't gotten around to installing the little digital switcher thing so that we can see the two networks that broadcast here), cable TV (admittedly paid, but with a considerably greater selection of realtime content in better, often HD quality, although also admittedly with way too many ads, which drive me so nuts that we aren't bothering to get cable), network sites (same quality, same amount of ads, still free), iTunes (paid but better quality), Netflix, or DVDs. The only thing Hulu.com really offered was an aggregate service that meant not needing to click around to various sites. And I don't think that charging for content will do much to increase their site visitors.