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Apple Considering a Bid For Hulu?
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This would be a great move for Apple, assuming all the content deals carry over through the sale.
Apple TV (and similar services) are great in concept, but lack the content to really replace the cable box for the average user. Hulu offers tons of TV content, even offering current programs the day after they air. Hulu's TV content blows away both Netflix and iTunes.
Their movie content is pretty bad, but I think it's the TV Apple would be after.
If Apple were to clean up the content (get rid of all the 2-3 minute clips and trailers that clutter up the interface) and rebrand Hulu+ as Apple TV, it could be quite successful.
With Hulu+, Netflix and iTunes, Apple TV would only be missing content from premium providers like HBO & Showtime and one major network (CBS). Personally, I can live without CBS. Find a way to get the premium channels on board and cable is no longer necessary.
Apple TV (and similar services) are great in concept, but lack the content to really replace the cable box for the average user. Hulu offers tons of TV content, even offering current programs the day after they air. Hulu's TV content blows away both Netflix and iTunes.
Their movie content is pretty bad, but I think it's the TV Apple would be after.
If Apple were to clean up the content (get rid of all the 2-3 minute clips and trailers that clutter up the interface) and rebrand Hulu+ as Apple TV, it could be quite successful.
With Hulu+, Netflix and iTunes, Apple TV would only be missing content from premium providers like HBO & Showtime and one major network (CBS). Personally, I can live without CBS. Find a way to get the premium channels on board and cable is no longer necessary.
No business that wants to stay in business is going to do that. I wouldn't worry. That kind of petty thing is something only us peasants do.
As long as the rights transfer over to the new owner, Apple buying Hulu could be the most awesome thing in the history of awesome things.
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I figured with the current owners/content providers wanting to sell Hulu it was going to be dead. Nobody who bought it would be able to make it viable.
Apple buying it never crossed my mind. Apple may be the only company to make it viable wrapping it into their own offerings. I would assume apple would primarily use it to negotiate long term content access contracts with the current owners.
Still not sure it would be good for Apple. Anyone else who buys Hulu is a fool but apple might be able to leverage it into something worth the cost.
I figured with the current owners/content providers wanting to sell Hulu it was going to be dead. Nobody who bought it would be able to make it viable.
Apple buying it never crossed my mind. Apple may be the only company to make it viable wrapping it into their own offerings. I would assume apple would primarily use it to negotiate long term content access contracts with the current owners.
Still not sure it would be good for Apple. Anyone else who buys Hulu is a fool but apple might be able to leverage it into something worth the cost.
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Actually the main value to Apple are the content deals. Apple would in essence paying off the short sighted content providers for long term content access. The hulu website would be secondary and real not be why apple would buy them.
hachiman said:
Actually the main value to Apple are the content deals. Apple would in essence paying off the short sighted content providers for long term content access. The hulu website would be secondary and real not be why apple would buy them.
NetFlix is also in the bidding, I'd like to see them get all of the licenses so they could beef up their selections and make me a customer
To be honest, apple will likely lock hulu down to their devices and restrict it's use. Probably become a paid only service. I'd much rather someone like Google take over it, and integrate it into youtube.
Here's the problem with appletv- Tvs themselves already duplicate all of it's function and then some. AppleTV would be great for my SD tv, but it only works with HDMI. HDMI tvs already have Netflix, HULUPlus, Facebook, etc.
Another thing is if you go out and buy pretty much any Blu-Ray player you'll find it can connect to Hulu or NetFlix. I have a little old lady neighbor and she got a free Blu-Ray with a new TV. Asked me to hook it up. I plug it in and it's jumped instantly onto a nearby open Wi-Fi connection and went right to NetFlix one half of the screen and Hulu on the other. I was like "Wha?"
it still wouldn't be complete. you can't forget a source for sports. live games are essential.
My TV doesn't. And it's much cheaper to pay $99 for the ATV then to purchase a new television. I'm watching the Yankees game on mlb.tv on it as we speak. Well worth the $99, IMO.
Hence make it actually viable (a la music distribution via iTunes.)
Would be even more of a reason to get Apple devices.
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I highly doubt Apple would by Hulu or Netflix, why not just negotiate similar deals as them and offer them through iTunes?
Apple has a strong brand identity, if it bought either of them they would have to change the name and look to the point of it being a new product anyway.
The only incentives I can see is eliminating a competitor and getting their current contracts, though without a guarantee of those contracts continuing what's the point when they could do their own contracts?
Apple has a strong brand identity, if it bought either of them they would have to change the name and look to the point of it being a new product anyway.
The only incentives I can see is eliminating a competitor and getting their current contracts, though without a guarantee of those contracts continuing what's the point when they could do their own contracts?
In all honesty I am shocked the Apple TV took off. Not because it's not great. I keep finding reasons to buy one, but never do. I frankly should and will.
Anywho...I am just old enough to remember the last time Apple tried to pair itself with a TV and it didn't end well.
Can we say "Pippin", Children?
Anywho...I am just old enough to remember the last time Apple tried to pair itself with a TV and it didn't end well.
Can we say "Pippin", Children?
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Do it!!! Hulu needs an Apple touch to it! If it could be incorporated into the Apple TV I would be in heaven!
Do it!!! Hulu needs an Apple touch to it! If it could be incorporated into the Apple TV I would be in heaven!
I've got my fingers crossed that they win. If they do I'll come back. While apple is buying everything up, please make a bid for my cable company. Because they really suck here in Pa.
As others have stated, it would be a really nice addition to the Apple TV if Apple could work it in. That being said, Netflix being on it is huge as it is!
Now if the
TV users could get 100% ad free, I would admire that!
Now if the
TV users could get 100% ad free, I would admire that!I've got my fingers crossed that they win. If they do I'll come back. While apple is buying everything up, please make a bid for my cable company. Because they really suck here in Pa.
I'm in PA too, you must have the same cable company I have, lol.