[segadc]

Anyone going to get it for their favorite devices? No so sure about it. I definetly want to check it out. You can sign up to get it early.

http://www.hulu.com/plus

This post has been edited by segadc: 29 June 2010 - 11:58 AM

[core238]

I was coming here to post this.

As for whether to buy into it or not, comes down mostly to how good the HD is. Right now (for me at least), I get really good quality HD, at fairly decent bitrates, on every TV show that I watch from torrents . . . and I still get it commercial free.

Then again, I do pay for Netflix . . . but then Netflix does comes with ZERO commercial breaks at a slightly lower price.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see if it will be worth it. Applying to get into the early 'beta' now, and see what I will see if I can get in early - I suggest that everyone else do so as well.

Anyway, it's coming to PS3 next month, and (according to Microsoft) an improved version on Xbox 360 in early 2011, which does not surprise me given PS3's Netflix implementation. So at least on the surface, it looks like Sony beat Microsoft in the bidding for largest contribution to Hulu's bank accounts and got six months exclusivity for the service.

Interesting enough, I wonder how they got this thing on iPad? Last I checked, Apple hated anything running on Flash. I wonder how much of an investment Hulu had to make to convert all the content on Hulu+ to HTML5? Maybe that's part of the reason they are charging a premium + commercials for the service.

Anyway, things are looking pretty dire for cable/satellite. $10/month for first run TV on Hulu+ (now in HD), $9/month for films/back log TV on Netflix (also, now in HD), plus any number of live sporting streaming services sprouting up all over the connected world (like Microsoft's ESPN service coming to LIVE), and there really is very little reason to continue paying $60 to $120 per month for cable/satellite subs.

This post has been edited by core238: 29 June 2010 - 12:49 PM

[segadc]

The commercials are definetly hold me back on getting this. For now I am fine with Netflix and FiOS TV.

Not to get too off topic but for the ESPN service on Live you will need to have a cable/fios subscription.

[core238]

segadc, on 29 June 2010 - 03:53 PM, said:

The commercials are definetly hold me back on getting this. For now I am fine with Netflix and FiOS TV.

Not to get too off topic but for the ESPN service on Live you will need to have a cable/fios subscription.

Some form of broadband internet connection is a given for any of these streaming services.

Other than that however, you can cut the cord to the cable companies and their high prices. Something they are not going to like, and one of the reasons many cable providers are pushing against net neutrality, or are beginning to initiate usage caps on their services. It's basically and iron-fisted preemptive strike to 'convince' consumers not to dump their cable TV service once television finally migrates into the cloud.

[thengodisseven]

Can't picture ever getting this. Maybe if I took a long train to work it would make sense.

Or catching up with a tv series I just discovered late again and it's not available on netflix.

[segadc]

See I thought you need a TV subscription but now I think of it I don't see that anywhere.

[core238]

thengodisseven, on 29 June 2010 - 06:10 PM, said:

Can't picture ever getting this. Maybe if I took a long train to work it would make sense.

Or catching up with a tv series I just discovered late again and it's not available on netflix.

See, that's what I'm thinking. The upside to this would be getting content that is not on Netflix, or is only on Netflix part of the time.

The problem with Netflix getting content, has always had to do with ownership. Netflix is a true tech startup, when it comes to online streaming. Hulu on the other hand is owned by major networks (Fox and NBC Universal, if I understand correctly) and in partnership with several of the other networks (ABC/Disney being one such). The one good thing with Hulu, is you never have to worry about content disappearing from the site . . . unless they have a falling out with one of the partners, like the recent falling out with Viacom which saw them pull much of their content from the site.

Conversely, what really hurts Hulu+ vs. Netflix are the ads. You're paying a premium for the service, why should you have to put up with the ads if you are paying a premium? In a big picture, long term perspective, Hulu+ does set a dangerous precedent for the future of streaming media should the model prove successful.

On content selection, combined, both Hulu+ and Netflix make a pretty powerful argument against continuing to subscribe to cable or satellite for television programming. $19/month for all you can eat entertainment vs. however much your cable bill is monthly for 80% to 90% of the same entertainment. If you could get a similarly priced, comprehensive, live streaming sports package to go along with Hulu+ and Netflix . . .


All the same, I still hate the idea of ads interrupting a service that I am paying a premium to get. There is a very good reason why I, along with millions of other people around the world, only watch television using torrents these days.

This post has been edited by core238: 29 June 2010 - 04:05 PM

[thengodisseven]

I've generally gone to newsgroups for things not on directv or netflix and it works out pretty well.

Even if I used this service, it would only be for like a single month out of the year and likely not even the whole month.

[S Carver Orne]

I'll probably get it, but when I do I will be discontinuing my satellite television service.

[Vyse]

I'm with Carver. Thanks for the link Sega.

[drstan00]

I can't see myself dropping cable for it. My biggest issue is sound quality. Last time I checked (please correct me if I'm wrong), they did not offer surround sound at all. Hopefully this will change with the console versions because it's a big deal breaker for me.