A couple of weeks ago, we brought you news that Comcast was looking to purchase enough of a stake in on-line site Hulu that it could begin charging users to view content on the popular site.
While the deal between Comcast and NBC/Universal hasn’t gone through yet, it appears that Hulu may be getting ready to charge users for some of its streaming content and as early as next year.
News Corp. deputy chairman Chase Carey was quoted at a conference this week saying the video service would be charging users in 2010, though “some” content would remain free. News Corp. is a part owner of Hulu.
“I think a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of our content. I think what we need to do is deliver that content to consumers in a way where they will appreciate the value,” Carey was quoted as saying by Broadcasting & Cable.
A Hulu rep said the company’s strategy of offering high-quality content supported by advertising remains unchanged, while leaving the door open to adding paid content.
“Hulu’s mission has always been to help people find and enjoy the world’s premium, professionally produced content,” the rep said. “We continue to believe that the ad-supported free service is the one that resonates with the largest group of users and any possible new business models would serve to complement our existing offering. There are no details or time lines to share regarding our future product road map.”
Hulu has been touted as a major success story for ad-supported content online, offering TV programming from the likes of Fox, NBC and Disney.
News Corp. has been a major proponent of moving to paid models instead of relying solely on advertising, with executives often pointing to the success The Wall Street Journal has enjoyed.
…. And that’s the sound of the other shoe dropping. I guess the Americans will probably be looking for an On-Ramp to the BT Highway soon.
It was fun while it lasted. Goodbye Hulu and hello Fancast
If the internet user collective was smart… (And unfortunately as a group they are not) We would all stop watching anything on Hulu immediately and send a message that this change is bad.
Unfortunately… We still have spam because users can’t figure out that clicking ads in email sends you even more unwanted email.
Sigh…. we’re doomed again.
This is a drag. When Hulu pulled itself out of Boxee I knew something like this was coming down the road.
Still – I would support a nominal, annual fee for all you can eat access AND I’d even be OK with having to watch ads.
The fact is I’m willing to pay *something* for the convenience factor of being able to watch shows wherever I have my laptop (everywhere) and an internet connection (pretty much all the time). Hulu is a great service and offers high quality content: they pretty much own that market, but I think that’s because its free.
If they try and charge per show or season or something, I’m out. They should take a page out of Apple’s iTunes playbook and realize charging a gazillion people a little bit will let them own the market AND get paid for it.
I watched the entire Jericho series on joost when I couldn’t get it on hulu. It’s not as good as hulu but it’s FREE. BTW, Jericho rocks!
I think this is part of a larger attempt by a few corporations to start taking over the net for there own purposes. Before you start thinking I’m getting all paranoid consider Rupert Murdoch and his ideas about making the FOX news site a pay per view venue. (Yes, I know FOX viewers might be dumb enough to go for that.)
More ominously cable and telecom companies want to charge you for bandwidth used; above your normal monthly fee, or charge online companies (like Google) for using the cable or telecom companies, pipeline. This is also known as ending net neutrality. I’ve already read editorials in the Wall Street Journal claiming that ending net neutrality will let the internet “evolve.”
Mark my words, this attempt to charge for Hulu is the tip of a larger iceberg. Just because it may fail doesn’t mean the fight will be over.
Shush Kurt… You are tipping our hand.
WE will take over scifi, the InterNET, and THEN THE WORLD….!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA