Support NeoGAF

[devildog820]

I guess the oft-leaked rumors were true.

Hulu is announcing the launch of Hulu Plus, an ad-supported, premium subscription service that will run $9.99 per month and includes HD access to full season runs of shows from Fox, ABC, and NBC. Better yet, Hulu Plus will work across a multitude of platforms, including PCs, the iPad, iPhone, some Samsung Blu-ray players, and soon, the PlayStation 3. The service is currently only available to select Hulu members who have been invited.

Emphasis all mine

The new subscription service will feature shows from over 100 content providers, including both current and ‘classic’ episodes. Subscribers will have access to every episode from current seasons of 45 programs from ABC, Fox, and NBC, including Glee, Modern Family, 30 Rock, and The Office through a ‘Season Ticket’ system (see the screenshot below). The service will also offer a back catalog of older shows, some of which will include the entire series run of episodes.

Source:
http://techcrunch.com/2010/06/29/hulu-plus-premium/

Invite Request:
http://www.hulu.com/plus

 

[PhoncipleBone]

BAH! Coming to 360 early 2011? Fuckers. But at least I have iPad hulu now.

 

[kenta]

http://techcrunch.com/2010/06/29/hulu-plus-premium/

The rumors were true. Today, Hulu is announcing the launch of Hulu Plus, an ad-supported, premium subscription service that will run $9.99 per month and includes HD access to full season runs of shows from Fox, ABC, and NBC. Better yet, Hulu Plus will work across a multitude of platforms, including PCs, the iPad, iPhone, some Samsung Blu-ray players, and soon, the PlayStation 3. The service is currently only available to select Hulu members who have been invited — you can request an invite here.

Even if you don’t have an invite, you can still download a Hulu Plus application on the iPad, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. The application will feature a limited number of episodes, but you’ll be able to get a feel what the service will be like. Hulu says that the service wil launch broadly in the coming months.

The new subscription service will feature shows from over 100 content providers, including both current and ‘classic’ episodes. Subscribers will have access to every episode from current seasons of 45 programs from ABC, Fox, and NBC, including Glee, Modern Family, 30 Rock, and The Office through a ‘Season Ticket’ system (see the screenshot below). The service will also offer a back catalog of older shows, some of which will include the entire series run of episodes.

Content will be delivered at a resolution of 720p (HD) when available, and can be downgraded in low-bandwidth scenarios.

Hulu clearly intends to distribute the service across as many platforms as it can. Along with the aforementioned device partners, Hulu intends to include Hulu support with more Blu-ray players and TVs, including some from Sony and VIZIO. Support for the Xbox 360 will be coming in early 2011.

$10 monthly for ad-supported stuff seems sketchy, but we'll see. Forgot to mention the 360 in the title, whoops Thanks mystery mod!

 

[brandonh83]

Integrate this in with Plus at no extra charge and I'll bite. Until then, no Hulu, no Plus, nada.

 

[Keylime]

Today, Hulu is announcing the launch of Hulu Plus, an ad-supported, premium subscription service that will run $9.99 per month and includes HD access to full season runs of shows from Fox, ABC, and NBC.

...what?

Come on, man!

 

[_RT_]

I realize this isn't the gaming section..... but it would have been nice if Sony pulled a "one more thing" with this info.

Depending on how well this works, I will most definitely kiss comcast goodbye. finally.

 

[badcrumble]

Nice - let's hope this doesn't end up as Playstation+ only the way that Netflix ended up as Gold-only on the 360. Paying multiple fees for that content is stupid; either let us subscribe separately or include it for free with the Playstation-branded premium service.

 

[Owzers]

How exactly do you have an ad-supported premium service? I thought the ads were to compensate for the free service.

 

[PhatSaqs]

"Hulu Plus announced, coming to PS3 & 360"

Nice.

 

[mollipen]

Paying for Hulu and still getting the ads. Right. Sure.

 

[esquire]

$9.99/month + ads?

And I shouldn't get Netflix instead because...?

 

[Vibri]

Not liking this trend for stuff that's paid for AND ad-supported. How is the model different to established web Hulu?

 

[dudeguy24]

Cue a shitload of people coming in here and claiming they're entitled to free TV

 

[Annihilator]

Yea that should be included in psn+.

 

[theultimo]

Timed PS3 exclusive?

Also, the price is a bit much when my Netflix is the same and has 100% more content.

 

[goldenpp72]

I don't use hulu a lot, would this be worth a 10 dollar fee versus say, netflix?

 

[LiK]

Will wait and see what programs are available in HD first

 

[devildog820]

$9.99/month + ads?

And I shouldn't get Netflix instead because...?

Expect the content producers to start locking down content even more. Only ABC has a decent offering on Netflix right now.

 

[Dead Prince]

monthly sub with ad-support. where have i seen that.

 

[KernelPanic]

Wow I expected MS to land this first.

 

[Critical Jeff]

Why not just wait for the Netflix apps set to release for all i-devices?

 

[badcrumble]

Not liking this trend for stuff that's paid for AND ad-supported.

I don't like it either, but it's hardly a "trend," since cable TV is both paid-for and ad-supported and has been around for decades.

 

[darkwing]

is this ip locked like netflix?

 

[Askani]

It's not replacing standard Hulu. You're not paying $10 for Hulu as it is now...you're paying $10 for the back catalogs and more device options.

 

[gcubed]

what happened to the 360 and Hulu? Its hitting the PS3 first? Wasn't it announced for the 360 or was that just a rumor?

and where is my android support, i want to give you money!

 

[kenta]

monthly sub with ad-support. where have i seen that.

Cable television?

 

[Vibri]

It's not 'free' TV.

Hulu charges a higher ad CPM than even TV advertising. Everyone time you watch programming on the web it makes them money.

#fail

 

[theultimo]

is this ip locked like netflix?

Hulu's already country-locked, so I would expect the same.

 

[Keylime]

Cue a shitload of people coming in here and claiming they're entitled to free TV

I'd rather pay $15 a month and have no ads than to pay $10 a month and still get ads.

Advertising is so annoying...

 

[Guevara]

$9.99 per month? DOA (to me).

 

[Baconmonk]

Timed PS3 exclusive?

Also, the price is a bit much when my Netflix is the same and has 100% more content.

Now, I'm not going to disagree and I haven't seen a full list of Hulu's stuff, but 100% more good content? Hulu does movies now, and I would assume they would upgrade what they can to Hulu Plus at 720p. Mind you, I'm comparing the streaming services, if you count the discs from Netflix then theres no contest.

Either way, unless its bundled with my Live/PSN Plus, do not want.

 

[garrickk]

Timed PS3 exclusive?

Also, the price is a bit much when my Netflix is the same and has 100% more content.

Wait for all the paid content on Hulu to disappear from Netflix in the near term.

 

[Magnus]

For the love of god, find a way to make this accessible to Canadians. The advent of PSN Video in Canada tomorrow gives me hope.

 

[dextran]

that's too much money per month. might as well get cable and use their on-demand.

 

[darkwing]

why is it priced the same as netflix?!?

 

[Hari Seldon]

Once it comes out on PS3 I will consider it. I'm not paying $10/month for some shitty stream to my iDevice.

 

[Cheesemeister]

Let me guess, they'll only tell you it's unavailable in your country AFTER paying up?

EDIT: Oh snap, beaten by two threads. There's another one in OT: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=399800

 

[Ridli]

Cue a shitload of people coming in here and claiming they're entitled to free TV

I don't know. I agree that $10 probably isn't anywhere close to recouping their costs. Still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

However, something like this is probably a good step towards the a la cart TV system that I've been dreaming of for years.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Advertising pays the bills for the shows though, it is a necessary evil. The Plus service just gives a deeper back catalog, but it is not replacing the old service. My question is about the iPad app. Is it Plus only, or can it still work with standard hulu?

 

[Blackhead]

I already pay for Netflix so not interested. I just don't watch TV like that and have a dvr anyway. Hulu's audience at the moment is mostly teenagers. Unless they provide a way for those kids to pay without a parent this won't transition well. They must be working on a lite version with iAds, surely? They might be trying to target the people, largely adults, who buy iTunes season passes and backlogs but that was a small market to begin with.

 

[A Twisty Fluken]

This would be much more enticing if it allowed them to bring back Daily Show/Colbert.

 

[DMeisterJ]

Ad supported? Ugh.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

I don't know. I agree that $10 probably isn't anywhere close to recouping their costs. Still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

However, something like this is probably a good step towards the a la cart TV system that I've been dreaming of for years.

That is what I think it is leading towards. And the more channels that jump on it the better. The networks can then bypass the cable companies and deliver straight to the consumer. This may lead to more accurate ratings tracking as well. If done correctly, this could radically change things for the better.

Also, I think a paid service was one of the things CBS wanted before jumping in with HULU.

 

[JaggedSac]

Just might be able to get rid of cable completely with Netflix + Hulu + ESPN, and still watch current episodes.

That would be a savings of around $80 dollars for me.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Ad supported like normal TV.

The benefit i see over Netflix is the ability to watch all of the current season.

Still, keeping my Netflix.

 

[Draft]

$10 a month plus ads?

Fuck that shit.

 

[Keylime]

However, something like this is probably a good step towards the a la cart TV system that I've been dreaming of for years.

I've been chewing on a la carte TV via iTunes for about a year now. Buy the shows you want to watch via a season pass and you get the episode the day after it airs. It's yours to keep and often in HD for 2-3 bucks (SD vs. HD). Season passes are usually discounted over buying each episode on their own.

I'm actually not sure if I'd want to do this or not, as I'm not always going to have a good internet connection to stream this stuff. When I went to Vegas I loaded up my iPad with a season of Glee and we watched on the plane...I'm not going to trust streaming via airplane WiFi for HD content...not yet at least.

 

[kenta]

Just might be able to get rid of cable completely with Netflix + Hulu, and still watch current episodes.

I keep thinking about doing this, but having a constant live stream of television and being able to jump around channels... I'm just not ready to give that up, yet. I wish one of these services would at least emulate live TV with a stream like that

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

One question: US Only? If so then FUCK OFF, HULU!

EDIT: Hulu Plus is a US only service. Unfortunately, we do not have international streaming rights at this time. If you are outside the US and can not view videos from the free Hulu.com site, please do not sign-up for Hulu Plus.

:/

 

[spwolf]

Integrate this in with Plus at no extra charge and I'll bite. Until then, no Hulu, no Plus, nada.

how would that work really? I mean seriously... who wouldnt buy it then... hey why not ask for free Netflix as well...

I hope that this is not limited to Plus, lets see what happens with that...