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Hulu To Require Viewers To Have Cable Subscriptions
The NY Post reports that Hulu, the video streaming service with over 30 million users, has plans to force those users to prove they have a subscription to cable or satellite TV if they want to keep watching. Quoting:
"The move toward authentication is fueled by cable companies and networks looking to protect and profit from their content. The effort comes as entertainment companies continue to face drastic shifts in home viewing habits. Overall spending on home entertainment edged up 2.5 percent to $4.45 billion in the first quarter as a surge in digital streaming — which rose more than fivefold to $549 million — offset a continuing collapse in video rentals, according to Digital Entertainment Group. ... Hulu racked up some $420 million in ad revenue last year and is expected to do well in this year’s ad negotiations. But the move toward authentication, which could take years to complete, will make cable companies happy because it could slow cord-cutting by making cable subscribing more attractive."
Netflix's stock is about to recover from that huge screwup back in September...
Charisma is the measure of someone's ability to lie with a straight face.
Indeed. Though TFA mentions that Providence Equity apparently thinks it's a dumb idea too; it triggered them trying to cash out their 10%.
Don't think for a moment that these guys don't understand why people are using Hulu. This action today shows that they understand quite well. The cable companies are scared shitless that people will cancel and use Hulu instead, and that's why they're doing this.
And yet, they don't get it. They seem to think that this scheme is going to stop people from dropping cable. In fact, all it's going to do is flush Hulu down the toilet. People will still drop cable, but they'll find alternatives to Hulu, both legal and illegal.
You really have to hand it to the entertainment industry. These guys aren't afraid to walk up to their customers, spit in their faces, piss all over them, and then hand them a bill for the privilege. And I'd be willing to bet that the ONLY reason they don't hire Guido, Vinny, and Rocco to handle collections is because the lawyers told them that doing do is a liability issue.
If I worked at Hulu, I'd be updating my resume about now.
Hulu free has been sucking for months now. Can't deliver even a half decent video stream at any resolution. Meanwhile, Netflix watch it now, on the exact same hardware/network/etc., looks and sounds great. Can't say I'm inspired to pony up for a Hulu subscription when they change their service terms faster than the subscription period runs out.
Last cable service I had was in 1993... can't say I've missed it. If Hulu cuts me off, there's plenty of TV to watch on Netflix.
Amen to that.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Rare non-xkcd, yet relevant comic: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones
The tragedy is that as great as all that you propose is, it's very much illegal and truly isn't fair to the content producers.
It's a real damn shame too, the experience of that sort of content is many times more pleasant than any legitimate means of acquiring said content. No streaming restrictions limiting the bitrate of the quality or incuring significant buffering times. No DRM to mysteriously cock up somewhere in the line and erroneously or intentionally block legitimate use. No juggling of optical discs to watch the specific content you want....
If I could have a solution analagous to Amazon or iTunes mp3 situation, I'd be all over it in a heartbeat. Alas, the studios won't relent on the imaginary benefit of DRM.
XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
No mod points to give (and I wish it went above five at times like this).
Two months ago, I gave Comcast the ol' heave-ho in favor of a far, far cheaper ($100 less per month cheaper) satellite+DSL subscription package. I get more channels, a far more reliable connection (speed? whatever... my 6Mbps DSL line gets me downloads way faster than Comcast's forged-RST and oversubscribed-DOCSIS 'product' could ever hope to give.)
Let's just say that I'd rather masturbate to a nudie pic of Rosie O'Donnell with a fistful of broken glass soaked in gasoline, than to even think of giving money to those fucktards... ever.
If Hulu demands that I get a cable sub, Hulu simply won't be visited by any computer here.
Besides, speaking of which, how exactly does Hulu intend to compete with the cableco's own online/streaming features? It's like buddying up to a ravenous tiger in the hopes that you'll be eaten last or something.
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
Starting August 15, 2011, viewers of content from Fox and related networks will have to authenticate whether they subscribe to a paid cable or satellite service wherever Fox streams episodes, including Hulu, to be able to watch them the morning after the first airing. Non-subscribers will see those episodes delayed a week before they are viewable.
The wikipedia article cites the following NY Times article. The source is more credible, and there's a big difference between "Hulu to Require Viewers To Have a Cable Subscription" and "Fox to Limit Next-Day Streaming on Hulu to Paying Cable Customers."
This is a rumor spread by "sources", as the NY Post helpfully explains. It looks like it's only a speculative rumor; it's certainly nothing official. I just got off the phone w/ Hulu customer service about this --if it were true, I would have immediately canceled my Hulu Plus subscription.
While the customer support guy was not permitted to respond directly to claims in new stories, he said they hadn't heard of such a change, he'd be shocked if they did so, and would feel the same way about it that I did. It doesn't make much sense, as this would precisely eliminate the reason I bother to pay for Hulu Plus -- because I don't have, and will not buy, cable service. A move like this would do nothing to enhance Hulu's revenue, and would almost certainly eliminate a large part of their subscribers.
If you're a Hulu Plus subscriber and you're actually concerned about it, call them yourself; 1-877-719-2773. No hold time, no phone tree; it goes directly to a human in customer service.