[MW Forums]

Earlier this week, NBC Universal and News Corp. launched a private beta of the Hulu video service, which looks to compete with both iTunes and YouTube. Dan Moren had the chance to take the service for a test drive and weighs in on whether you'll be ditching iTunes in favor of Hulu any time soon. more

[jcraig]

NBC doesn't seem to realize that people want possession of their content, portability is the key. With iTunes, people are actually will to pay for what is freely available over the air in order to have that portability. All they're doing now is driving people to The Pirate Bay.

[LVShowman]

What a step backward!
Portability is king!
With TiVo, I can watch a show anytime I want and skip commercials. Why be tied down to my 24" computer screen, watching streaming video of mediocre quality, at best, compared to 1080p?
No Thanks NBC.

[depressed_]

Idiom police <siren sound>
Aren't elephants more like eight <I>thousand</I> lbs?! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
"The elephant in the room is an English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored. It is based on the fact that an elephant in a small room would be impossible to overlook.
Also sometimes seen is the variant 800 pound gorilla in the room. This is a contamination from a separate idiom, "800 pound gorilla," meaning a powerful contender."
<http://www.answers.com/topic/elephant-in-the-room>
Sorry, Dan. I couldn't resist.

[Philip Michaels]

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Sorry, Dan. I couldn't resist.

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That'd be the fault of Dan's editor, who got his animal phrases muddled.

[russellb]

They really dont get it !
5 years ago yes people might have sat in front of their computer to watch TV shows etc as it was a novelty.
NOW .. I want to sit in my lounge room and watch my downloaded TV shows via my Apple TV (or any TiVo device) I want to take TV shows on my Iphone (or insert here Video Ipod etc)
What a huge step backwards just these GREEDY TV networks are scared to let companies like Apple get any control over what happens to their content. Like the record companies these TV companies will do whatever it takes to keep control of content even if it means talking us back into the darks ages rather than use better services like Itunes

[UpQuark]

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Sorry, Dan. I couldn't resist.

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That'd be the fault of Dan's editor, who got his animal phrases muddled.

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Since we are being overly picky English usage police - it should be " animal metaphors" muddled.
And the alliteration has a nice ring to it as well.
However, I think Hulu is doomed to the lowest end of mediocrity. As mentioned before, portability is key. Why make it harder when consumers want easy/fast/reliable etc...?

[mretondo]

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It means, for example, that you cant download videos from Hulu to play on your iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV.

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You forgot one. I buy from iTunes when my DVR messes up a recording. I still want to watch on my TV and not my computer so I put it on my video iPod. Then I slip the iPod into the dock hooked up to the TV, sit back on the couch with the apple remote, and watch a good show:)

[gambit]

Okay, NBC, we get it. You've 'only' made 15 million dollars with iTunes and now you're content to join ventures where money is guaranteed to be lost. Fine, have it your way.
But, my question is: what makes you think the market isn't big enough for your Hulu service AND iTunes? One doesn't have to lose for the other to win. Multiple revenue sources are possible, even if the one that rhymes with Sulu IS destined to drop kick your bottom line.

[thebiggfrogg]

Currently I reside in China and have since 2005. I was overjoyed when Battlestar Galactica came to iTunes and anxiously awaited the new two hour movie and the final fourth season. It is, in my opinion, the best show on TV and the only thing I really watch regulaly. I was glad to pony up $1.99 for all the eps as I believe in rewarding the content creators and was anxious to see the new shows. Guess what? In addition to Hulu being a lame streaming, tied to your computer service it isn't available outside the U.S. I was glad to fork over a few bucks to watch, now I guess we expats will have to find "other sources." Smart move, NBC-Universal financial geniuses. I guess the Gods have a sense of humor, in that idiot, greedhead Zucker (the head of NBC) so easily rhymes with a six letter expetive that so suits him.

[canettijazz]

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What a step backward!
Portability is king!
With TiVo, I can watch a show anytime I want and skip commercials. Why be tied down to my 24" computer screen, watching streaming video of mediocre quality, at best, compared to 1080p?
No Thanks NBC.

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Actually, I think of it as a viewing alternative. Disney/ABC has led the way with not only offering users to buy and own content through iTunes, but if you don't want to purchase the content you can view almost every ABC show (even some cancelled shows from last year!) on the ABC site with spot ads. The viewer works quite well. NBC's problem is that they don't offer anything for people that want to own the content for viewing on portable devices like an iPod.
Not surprised NBC is the one raising the stink. They've always been closely tied to Microsoft (eg. MSNBC, Leno help launch Windows releases). They used to just post the latest version of a show (eg. Heroes) on their site for free viewing with ads and would remove earlier shows. Hated this approach. Also, their Conan O'Brien Late Night offerings on iTunes is terrible - you don't even get to buy the whole show, but instead got segments for $1.99. Great show, but dismal internet availability. Maybe it'll be on the Hulu site. BTW, are they asking for a cut of Zune sales too?
NBC - boo! ABC - yeah!

[derkathon]

if it could hook into front row/apple tv, then I'd find it incredibly compelling, with or without ads.

[Dimwhit]

Personally, I can't wait for Hulu to come out of beta so I can use it. I watch a number of shows online while I'm working on my computer, so this service is perfect. I will never pay $2 to watch a single TV episode. Most I'd ever pay is maybe $10 for a full season. But that will never happen.
So put me on the (apparently) short list of those interested.

[dandonovan1]

This makes me want to buy a Tivo and put NBC content on Apple TV. The savings from not paying 1.99 for NBC content would pay for the Tivo machine. How can this be done?