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Hulu to begin charging for (some) content next year?
But partly for that reason, FOX, NBC, ABC, and the other content networks that are supplying Hulu with a steady stream of TV shows and movies aren't making as much money from the site as they do when that content is viewed on TV. And according to FOX News Corp deputy chairman Chase Carey, one way to address that issue is to start charging for Hulu content. '
Now, before you freak out, it's not entirely clear at the moment exactly what content would be moved behind a paid firewall. It's unlikely that Hulu would require users to pay to watch everything on the site. But it is possible that some exclusive content could be available only to paying subscribers or one-time viewers.
Of course, it's possible that the forces behind Hulu could go all out and treat itself like a cable network, requiring users to pay to view anything on the site -- at which point Hulu's audience would sharply decline while internet piracy would shoot up.
What do you think? Is there some content you would pay to see on Hulu? Or are you already paying for that content from iTunes, Amazon, or other internet video distributors?
[via TV Squad]
Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsBrdystylsOct 22nd 2009 6:23PM
Goodbye Hulu we will miss your short lived life. Not. There are far more alternatives out there than to pay for a service like this. Oh well. Their lost company not mine. I will say my good byes though.
dianespbOct 22nd 2009 9:09PM
I keep reading about how great Hulu is but in all the time I've known about it, I've only found one thing I wanted to watch.
Maybe I'm just too picky?
I find the search feature to be pathetic at best.
I would not pay for anything they offer. I prefer to go right to the networks if I missed a program.
JamesOct 22nd 2009 9:09PM
I could see them keeping the free content as is, and charging for the following new services:
1. Older episodes and previous seasons of current shows. Currently, Hulu generally allows you to watch the five newest episodes of a show. I could see them keeping those five episodes free and charging for users to view earlier episodes and previous seasons.
2. Shows from paid cable networks like HBO and Showtime.
3. Live streams and pay-per-view events.
4. Premium membership, where all content can be viewed commercial-free.
5. Paid downloads? Of course, DRM issues would have to be worked out.
It seems like they can reasonably add all these things without changing the free content on the site.
SchwinnOct 23rd 2009 9:15AM
Agreed... hopefully they manage this properly. Of course, history has shown this is rarely the case.
If they can provide a real client for my PS3 or MythTV box that streams HD, then I would be more than happy to pay for that privilege. Fact is, if they can pull that off, I'd be more than excstatic to flip off Comcast and go Hulu-only... which means Hulu could charge me more and I would still save money. But, again, only if they give me something more than what I have now.
Here's to hoping... but I'm not holding my breath.
michas_piOct 23rd 2009 7:03AM
It was inevitable. I knew they couldn't survive on advertising along forever, even with major corporate backing.
Or, their corporate backing just wants more money.
Duder318isOct 24th 2009 7:30PM
Their corporate backing wants more money =(