Fox to require cable subscription or 8-day delay for watching programs on Hulu

[mkrishnan]

I don't think there's a thread on this one yet. Another salvo in the fight over streaming TV shows.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/business/media/fox-to-limit-next-day-streaming-on-hulu.html?hpw

Starting Aug. 15, the Fox network will limit next-day streaming of its shows to paying customers of approved cable and satellite distributors. Those customers will be able to log in and watch episodes of “Bones,” “The Simpsons” and other shows the day after they appear on TV; all others will have to wait eight days.

At the end of the article, a notable point:

Hulu declined to comment on Fox’s announcement on Tuesday. The Web site has both a free service and a paid service, Hulu Plus, that includes full seasons of many series. Hulu Plus, which costs $8 a month, has almost one million subscribers.

A Fox spokeswoman said Hulu Plus would not be subject to the eight-day delay. But the company’s news release notably did not mention Hulu Plus, as if trying to discourage that option for next-day viewing.

Which, I think, is fair, assuming that the spokeswoman's claim surrounding Hulu Plus turns out to be true.

 

[miles01110]

ABC is considering it too.

 

[mkrishnan]

ABC is considering it too.

I'm all for paying for online content, as long as the pricing is reasonable. I don't think Hulu+ pricing is unreasonable, so as long as it doesn't get any Netflix kind of jacking-up, I'd support a move like that. In any event, I don't want to subscribe to cable ever again, if I can help it.

 

[SidewaysTakumi]

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The networks need to figure it out. Cable and satellite are going by the wayside. They are grasping at straws here.

 

[miles01110]

The $8 for Hulu+ beats paying $50+ per month for a bunch of channels I never watch. Even if the price went up to $16 I probably still wouldn't mind if I could watch the shows I want without delay.

 

[norrismantooth]

I knew there was a reason I cancelled my HuluPlus subscription yesterday... This confirms it.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I knew there was a reason I cancelled my HuluPlus subscription yesterday... This confirms it.

How does this confirm why you cancelled your Hulu+ subscription? If anything it only gives benefit to paying the premium. My issue with Hulu+ is that we're still stuck with ads and we're not able to see all shows. I am sure the show availability will change, ads though I think are here to stay. At the very least, I would love to have that option to watch a 2-minute ad in the beginning for all Hulu+ shows to avoid commercial breaks.

I'd like to get to a point where everything is easier and eventually get rid of cable.

 

[Biff...]

I don't care, hardly ever watch Hulu. After canceling my cable I've watch less and less TV and focus my attention on more important viewing, like Star Trek Voyager on Netflix, 100 plus episodes of 7 of 9, it should keep me busy for a few days.

 

[dmr727]

I'd like to get to a point where everything is easier and eventually get rid of cable.

Exactly. My biggest problem with Hulu+ is that much of their programming isn't available for devices outside the browser. I've got both a Blu-Ray player and an HDTV that are Hulu capable (as well as iOS devices that can zap content to my AppleTV), and because of stupid licensing issues, I still have to connect my MBP to my entertainment center - an option that's simply unacceptable for my non-techy wife.

It won't always be like this of course, but it's frustrating to be so close to being able to tell the cable company to go eff themselves.