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Hulu for iPad Likely to Be a Paid Subscription Service
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Typically, the hot new product will be the launch pad for a wider change. Free Hulu is on it's way out. Paid Hulu will launch along side free Hulu, with all new content only available for $. Sounds like Hulu is no longer a factor for or against the iPad... It just sucks universally.
if they need it to stay afloat then how come we, think skull clowns, arent having to subscribe already
They've been talking about going to a subscription model since last year. Try to keep up, the plot isn't that thick.
Here you go, I'll even make it easy for you; http://gizmodo.com/5387909/hulus-free-glory-days-are-officially-numbered
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Do you really think the addition of a subscription fee means the ads will be dropped? No way. U.S. ad revenue yielded 48 BILLION dollars last year... much of that from people paying satt/cable companies a subscription fee to receive television programming loaded with ads.
I'd rather pay a monthly fee for access to programming than watch stupid ads too, but I believe the plan is to get us to pay for monthly programming loaded with stupid ads. Else, they'll need to charge a big enough subscription fee to make up for up to $48 Billion ditched for ad-free delivery.
Cable/satt has already thoroughly proven we're stupid enough to pay for a subscription for ad-loaded programming. These players will just try to replicate what is already proven to work well (for them).
Another user put it best:
This new Apple is a far cry from the rebels of yesteryear.
This isn't "think different",that's for sure.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
By taking the stance on Flash. If Hulu rolls out a subscription-only product for mobile devices, but still has a free version of computer access via browser, then enabled Flash would give iPad owners the option to take advantage of what should be the more convenient player associated with the subscription OR go through Safari to use the web version.
The stance against Flash promotes efforts to monetize such content. If Apple would flip flop on this, Hulu would have to either continue the ad-revenue model "as is" or force the subscription model via all delivery mediums. A pure subscription play Hulu is probably not compelling enough to win a lot of subscribers, unless it further upgrades its programming to be a real alternative to a cable/satt bill already being paid. More simply, right now Hulu is an adjunct to a cable/satt bill for many people... because Hulu is free. Make it an added cost via subscription and it needs to compete with cable/satt bills, or motivate people to just pay even more for television distribution via more mediums.
I agree with many here who see a shift of Hulu to a paid model yields a dramatic drop in Hulu users, unless Hulu can directly replace the need for money already being spent for cable/satt. But I know the latter can't happen since the cable/satt players tend to be the one's serving up the broadband through which this Internet distribution flows. Bite into too much of the cable/satt cash cow and broadband rates will simply go up to make up the difference. That's why your current TV provider is probably also your broadband provider- they're securing the monthly subscription fee from you no matter which way this might play out.
I have to agree that the days of freedom have been coming to an end for some time...
One subscription per content choice and one could quickly lose their money faster than investing with Bernie Madoff, Ken Lay, Michael Milken, and Bernie Ebbers!
If the iPad provides content like cable where I pay a monthly subscription and have a bunch of channels (in the case of iPad - media content) and if I want premium commercial free (gulp), pay yet another subscription for STARZ or HBO to get such premium content, I can possible tolerate that as long as it is cancel at any time!
The only question, will the content providers do the right thing? Knowing them, probably not!
By not letting people access the free flash powered site perhaps?
And how it's free? It costs you time
The subscription system will not work unless Hula is offering something great you cannot get anywhere else. If its not free, people would almost always rather pick and choose where they want to send the money even if its more expensive in the long run. Cable TV was able to get away with a subscription because there was revolutionary content unavailable anywhere else. Many people were subscribing just to get MTV because no one else had that content. They could care less about the rest of the channels.
Hula has nothing even close to the original exclusive well made content cable TV was wheeling out when it arrived. In fact, this applies for most of the internet as well. Its 90% static and noise and its interesting because it is free. Mediocre music, comics, writing etc. made bearable because they are free. The other 10% is porn and its no accident they can charge subscriptions as they do offer content.
Exactly. I am not adding any subscriptions for things that I already have a subscription for. I would probably pay a couple bucks a month to access my cable on the go, but if I cant view it on my tv it makes no sense and is of no value to me. They need to figure out how AppleTV can replace cable.
What have they been giving away for free? Advertisers pay big bucks to insert ads into all their programs.
I'll stick with the Netflix I already pay for that has decent movies. Gawd the movies on HULU are crap.
You can bet there will be ads on HULUs paid service.
Perhaps Netflix will get their service going on the iPad. Pay once, play everywhere. Sans iPhone. I use netflix on laptop, computer and TiVo HD. It's pretty sweet. Not to mention for my $8.99 I can get unlimited DVDs as well.
I'll stick with the Netflix I already pay for that has decent movies. Gawd the movies on HULU are crap.
You can bet there will be ads on HULUs paid service.
Perhaps Netflix will get their service going on the iPad. Pay once, play everywhere. Sans iPhone. I use netflix on laptop, computer and TiVo HD. It's pretty sweet. Not to mention for my $8.99 I can get unlimited DVDs as well.
Flash is just back-end tech. It can be replaced. And Flash on Mac really sucks I've had it enough in 4 days. They have the right not to support it. You have the right what to buy, subscribe and etc., Where is the problem?
First of all, I don't see how this relates to failure of the iPad... It's HULU's decision.
And if they start charging for the iPad, they may possibly charge for web also. Just as many people here have said, they won't buy it since it's easier to just access the web instead of paying. Hulu isn't stupid, they may just start charging across the board.
if they need it to stay afloat then how come we, think skull clowns, arent having to subscribe already
Business Basics courses were available in elementary school where I lived. I even taught some when I was in High School. Check them out.
Yup - probably the reason why the "Amazon ready to buy Netflix" rumor keeps coming up:
http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/01/amazon-netflix_rumors_resurface.html
Me - I'm keeping my Slingbox. In lieu of all these Hulu (and other) subscription rumors, it's one of the best tech purchases I've made. I'm already paying for a (cable) subscription - this just allows me to take it anywhere.
What a smack in the face for the iPad. Why would I buy an iPad and be nickel and dimed for everything when I can get a notebook/netbook and pay less (and do more).
Apple fail. Congrats on raising the prices for consumers across the board.
Apple fail. Congrats on raising the prices for consumers across the board.
I think HULU is to blame for not effectively monetizing their business through commercials. The commercials they do have are not mainstream at all. These ads can't subsidize their operation. The exception is the "presented by Allstate" type commercials. Those will make them some money. The problem is they're not utilizing those mainstream companies. Half the time on HULU I don't even know what the commercial they're showing is even about.
Seems pretty clear they would consider the iPad a mobile device, and as such flash or not, it would not be able to access Hulu.
Come on people this is not hard. What Hulu is doing to survive has NOTHING to do with Apple. It is simply an additional and useful opportunity for them to bring out an iPad/iPhone app at the same time they introduce their subscription pricing. it provides an added value that was not there before. However it has nothing to do with Apple.
I think the naysayers are just mad because it looks like iPad users might actually be able to watch Hulu on the device sans Flash.
You are 100% right though, this is Hulu's call. If you don't think the service is worth it DON'T BUY INTO IT.
Also note that if Hulu starts charging for premium services the amount of content available will likely increase as well. Which will make paying for the service even more appealing.
Freetards you're up.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
The problem is that my response was not asking about each person's stance on personal experience with Flash. I responded to a question about how is Apple supporting such movements as this? Call Flash what you will, but if Apple would flip-flop on this decision, the iPad would become much more desirable for people (perhaps not you) simply because it would have access to a lot more content that will otherwise be locked out... not because it can't play Flash, but because Apple is choosing that buyers of this device shall not have Flash... or even an option to play Flash.
It's too bad that you've had a bad experience with Flash in just 4 days. I agree Flash on the Mac is generally not as good as Flash on Windows, but I would rather have the OPTION for it- good or bad- than to have Apple decide that I should not have it at all if I want to own their device.
Back to point though: if Apple would flip flop on this, and if Hulu does try to sell a subscription version via mobile devices while leaving the computer version "free" (ad supported only) for computer users, then Apple would be taking a stance that our customers can have it either way. By choosing to reject even the option for Flash, they somewhat force the issue if Hulu goes that way... for anyone who buys the "ultimate mobile Internet device".
Apple could do what's right for us customers and give us the OPTION. Let us decide to burn our batteries and/or crash our Safari browser is we want to do so. And an implementation of Click4Flash with a warning each time we exercise that option could completely distance Apple from blame for such crashes. That makes perfect sense to me. Apple and Apple's customers win.
Steve Jobs just said a few hours ago: "jump out of the window". Why you still around? Jobs wants Hulu on his iTunes store. Talking about "not seeing a forest for the tree". Many should understand by now what Jobs real goal is - to make folks to pay for everything on internet. He succeeded with you, it seems. Just because of he decided that this is awesome scheme to make dough, does not means there are not a plenty of other successful business models out there. Apple means nothing on internet scale.