Hulu - will it stick around now that Comcast partially owns it?

[slackerinabox]

What do you think will happen to Hulu now that Comcast controls it?

Subscription fees? Will they just shut it down? What does this mean for the future of IPTV? Wouldn't it be in the best interest of cable tv providers to make sure that there's no simple and free way to watch their content, even if that means buying out traditionally "free" broadcasters?

 

[FoBoT]

they'll have to charge subscription $ , right?

i'll stick with netflix due to my slow internet connection. instant play/roku through netflix is nice as an add-on , but physical media(dvd/bluray) is my main delivery mechanism until BFE gets faster internet. don't discount the bandwidth of USPS's network of delivery vehicles and physical media, one bluray disc can deliver 50GB for $.50 , right? how does that compare to FIOS or other high speed ISPs on a GB per $ basis

 

[minendo]

I thought they already announced that subscription fees will begin in 2010.

 

[Brainonska511]

The deal was finalized between GE and Comcast, but as far as I know, it will take some time to be approved by regulators.

 

[slackerinabox]

The deal was finalized between GE and Comcast, but as far as I know, it will take some time to be approved by regulators.

Of course, but assuming the deal is approved - is Hulu as we know it over?

 

[SunnyD]

No. Comcast already announced their own online streaming service (XFinity something or other garbage). They have no legitimate desire to provide a non-subscription based video service that would eat into their subscriber profits. Hulu as a free/ad supported entity made sense for a OTA broadcast network and content provider, because it would do just what I said Comcast DOESN'T want it to do.

 

[mugs]

It's in cable TV providers' best interest to make sure that you have a reason to continue subscribing to their service, and it's also in cable TV providers' best interest to keep their costs low.

The current way that TV is distributed is the most efficient way to distribute TV to millions of people who are watching the same thing at the same time. It originates from a centralized source and is propagated down the tree to the end user. That is the least efficient way to distribute content to people who each have their own unique stream of data.

Comcast isn't really fighting streaming content; they offer it on their cable boxes, and they even offer their own streaming video service over the Internet. What's in Comcast's best interest is to move the content closer to the customer so it's less expensive to serve it.

 

[her209]

Also, I believe Comcast (NBC) doesn't have to pay actors if the content is streamed through the Internet as opposed to "broadcasted". Don't know if this was rectified with the last SAG strike or not.

 

[seepy83]

My understanding was that the whole point of Hulu is that the film studios would at least make a small amount of revenue when their movie was watched on Hulu. This means more revenue for the Film Studios than if their movie was pirated (and they got no revenue at all), so the Film Studios licensed Hulu to stream their movies.

If Comcast decides to shut down Hulu, then what would stop someone else from opening up a similar service that is ad-supported and free for the consumer?

 

[lokiju]

Then thing I don't get about Comcast, is it's not like you can even get it even if you wanted to in areas that have something else.

It's not like Dish or DirecTv where you can get it regardless of what provider owns the lines in the ground.

So if they start pulling exclusive to Comcast only shit, that'd be pretty crappy.

 

[Slick5150]

Any deal that would pass FCC regulation would have to include non-exclusivity agreements that bars Comcast from taking NBC content and making it exclusively available to Comcast subscribers. Meaning, Hulu isn't likely to change much from the path they already were going down (towards subscription fees), and it's highly unlikely they'll have a competing service making NBC content available freely to their own subscribers only.

 

[Zargon]

the regulators would block it if their heads werent stuck so far up their asses

they let too much shit fly with the big telco stuff

 

[KeithP]

Of course, but assuming the deal is approved - is Hulu as we know it over?

Hulu was over before the deal:
http://gizmodo.com/5387909/hulus-free-glory-days-are-officially-numbered

Comcast made this move because they know the money is in the content, not the pipes. No matter how much they try and fight it, cable companies are going to eventually be the company you get internet access from and nothing more. To make real money, you will need to be a content provider.

-KeithP

 

[MBony]

Hulu was over before the deal:
http://gizmodo.com/5387909/hulus-free-glory-days-are-officially-numbered

Comcast made this move because they know the money is in the content, not the pipes. No matter how much they try and fight it, cable companies are going to eventually be the company you get internet access from and nothing more. To make real money, you will need to be a content provider.

-KeithP

It doesn't sound like anyone anyone knows what will happen w/ Hulu according to this article.

http://gizmodo.com/5418141/

 

[slackerinabox]

Any deal that would pass FCC regulation would have to include non-exclusivity agreements that bars Comcast from taking NBC content and making it exclusively available to Comcast subscribers. Meaning, Hulu isn't likely to change much from the path they already were going down (towards subscription fees), and it's highly unlikely they'll have a competing service making NBC content available freely to their own subscribers only.

I'm speaking from ignorance but, once approved, what's to stop Comcast from pulling the plug on Hulu in a few years - saying that Hulu wasn't reaching revenue expectations?

 

[her209]

I'm speaking from ignorance but, once approved, what's to stop Comcast from pulling the plug on Hulu in a few years - saying that Hulu wasn't reaching revenue expectations?

Well, I don't think they can kill Hulu. They can pull out of the partnership along with the NBC content (I'm guessing).

 

[zinfamous]

It will stick around--and it will now suck major ass.

 

[JS80]

Nothing will happen for at least 2 years, and if something does change NBC still only owns 27% of Hulu, so they will have to convince at least Disney (27% owner) or News Corp (27% owner) to push the board of directors who will push management (who prob have golden parachutes) to push for any significant change in strategy. And if there are any significant fundamental disagreements, they each have the power to not renew their content deals and kill their $100 million investment.

I suspect they will just make the commercials longer as they sell more ad space.

 

[rockyct]

Comcast killed G4, so I am worried they will kill what Hulu is now. We'll see what happens, but I refuse to pay Comcast what we are getting on Hulu now by viewing ads.

 

[nageov3t]

NBC was thinking about charging for Hulu before the merger. I wouldn't put the blame on Comcast if it happens.