Hulu begins encrypting HTML content to thwart non-browser apps
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 1st 2009 1:10PM
posted Apr 1st 2009 1:10PM
It looks like Hulu's trying yet another ill-fated tactic to keep its content restricted to traditional browsers and off things like Boxee -- TunerFreeMCE's Martin Millmore says Hulu's HTML is now encrypted at the source and then decrypted using Javascript on the client. That means plugins that parse the Hulu site for links to content won't work anymore, but man, what a complicated monkey dance for basically no gain -- it's already been broken, and we're wondering what Hulu's going to do when Boxee or another company stops playing around and simply builds a full-on WebKit or Gecko browser with a tweaked ID string into their app. Keep driving towards that cliff, guys -- millions of users who want Hulu on their TVs and will jump through hoops to get it don't represent any kind of market opportunity or anything.Update: The Boxee folks just pinged us to say what several commenters have also noted: the current Mac alpha now features an XUL-based Hulu component that works no differently than a browser, and the Windows and Linux versions will be updated shortly. We'll see how Hulu responds -- for now we're sticking by our prediction that this all ends with someone building a full-on browser into one of these apps.
Ah, good thing you signed your post. I'd never know your name was Taylor.
Hulu? More like Dudu. Am I right? Anyone? Hello?
High-five!
IIRC Boxxee's original Hulu implementation was just a plugin that ran Firefox full screen. They removed it at Hulu's request and went to an RSS aggregator... I would think that tactic would still work with this new system, if Boxxee were so inclined to roll back.
I don't think the first implementation had anything to do with Firefox (I could be wrond), which is why it was removed.
Hulu, with Boxee's latest update has gone back to something along these lines though. The Hulu RSS feed opens a browser for a few seconds that immediately then jumps into full-screen view. From what I understand, Boxee may have already pre-circumvented this issue as they implemented browser access on March 24th.
Don't know if this was intended for immediate implementation on Hulu's part, but I am able to watch Hulu using Boxee still.
Why are you people spelling Boxee with two Xs now?
4chan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yavx9yxTrsw
It's a compromise between the original "Boxee" and the forthcoming, all-porn "BoXXXee" coming out in Q4.
my computer screen and sound system are both better than my TV, this changes nothing for me. Oh yeah, and anyone can get some cheap AV cables and just hook the pc to the TV anyway.
Wow.. people want Hulu.. but Hulu doesn't want you. It makes perfect business sense! GREAT JOB HULU, KEEP IT UP!
giggity, giggity, giggity.
Fox and NBC crack me up. Here they are, sitting on the number one most popular site for a new content delivery method which is obviously preferred by their customers, and instead of embracing it and making it profitable, they spend their time and money trying to make it less functional so they can cling to the past a little bit longer.
Problem is, people aren't going to put up with it. While Fox and NBC are hard at work gimping Hulu, a competitor will come along with the same idea but embrace the demands of the customers and Hulu will be finished. At the end of the day, Fox and NBC are going to be at the mercy of whoever comes along first to replace them. If they just give their customers what they clearly want, they can remain in control of this new delivery method, but they're doing their best to make an opportunity for somebody to swoop in and make them irrelevant.
I think they underestimate the lure of watching shows on demand and over estimate the lure of the limited commercials.
Hulu already has pretty good mass with a super bowl commercial and backing from Fox/NBC. If Hulu doesn't turn out the way they want, they pull the plug- and unless that competitor is significantly better (and doesn't allow people to stream to their TVs, for which ad revenue is much more), people won't switch.
Its seems like Fox and NBC really don't like hulu to begin with. IMHO, it seems like they are just treating it as some sort of campy PR scheme, and pulling the rug out from under it when it starts to catch on. It feels like they never really wanted internet delivery in the first place.
Although I don't see a competitor coming along anytime soon. Hulu works now because it is backed by Fox/NBC. For another service to catch on (legally), it would have to have to get the nod from the suits as well. And given EVERY major media outlet's phobia of internet distribution, I don't see this happening anytime soon. For the love of God TV, don't go the way of the music industry. Until we can genuinely say "legitimate internet distribution is better than piracy," then, Disney, GE, Sony and Viacom need to start cracking their heads on something that works.
or you could just get an htpc and there is no problem at all
I will continue to watch hulu on what I want when I want where ever I want. But I will learn the proper use the comma.
hoooo. HTML encryption... I'm scared... Go back to the 20th century please.
Incredibly dumb. If it can be shown by Firefox (an open source browser), then everyone has the tools and source code to decode it and get the links out.
Pointless.
I just don't get it. They want us to watch regular programming on our TV and HULU on our computer. But if we have a computer hooked up to our TV and use Firefox or IE that's OK, but not if it's run through Boxee, XBMC, or Plex. Makes no sense. We still have to watch the commercials. Advertisers still get their message across. Those of us with HD are still going to match regular programming through more traditional channels since our Tivos can skip the ads and we can watch with better picture / sound quality.
You are thinking logically to provide a business service for both consumers and advertisers alike. Media Content companies can't. And they wonder why people turn to torrents or turn off all together.
Can you access Hulu on the G1 or blackberries?
I can't believe that Hulu is still trying to do this. I use PlayOn to view it on the TV (XBOX 360) and everytime that Hulu makes a change to their system PlayOn makes an update available to counter any problems viewing the content. So even if this does effect PlayOn I think they will have a patch available in the very near future.
Hulu should just remove all the content from their website. Let's see PlayOn work around that one! Haha, that'll show 'em!
That comment would be funny, if it weren't so sad that I honestly think they would consider this as a viable option...
I almost decided to try Hulu but was waiting for Boxee to support Hulu on A*TV. I guess I'll never try Hulu because they are such jerks. Why bother. I can get the content, without commercials, elsewhere.
PS3+browser=win.
flash on the ps3 is a bag of hurt
This is why I stopped using Hulu. I knew this is what would happen. They made it an attractive option to try and lure people away from torrents, and now that they've garnered some success, they're going to start roping people in.
People take the path of least resistance. I'm never home when these broadcast shows are on, so my options are to wait until they're out on reruns (years), wait until the DVD (minimum of a year), or torrent it (about 30-60 minutes after the show is done). Am I supposed to feel bad for taking the option that lets me not have to wait 12-48 months? Hulu was becoming the path of least resistance (well, torrents were still faster and easier, but I don't mind giving the providers some money via commercials, so that was fine), but if they're going to start doing things like encrypting data, limiting the devices that can tap into the videos, only having the five most recent episodes, etc. then eff 'em. I'm willing to try to go the legitimate route, but if that route becomes a pain in the ass, then guess what I'm gonna do...
April Fool's joke right? Come on. Right?
Somebody above mentioned that Hulu isn't in charge of the situation, that FOX and whatnot are.
That's the problem with our country these days, everybody is letting the big business be 'in charge'. We are in charge people. Without us, there is no 'them'. Be real. If you don't like what FOX/ABC/NBC is doing, it's pretty simple to do something about it - don't give them your money.
Of course the downside is that government won't let these companies go bankrupt, so we all pay in the end no matter what.
Have a nice day.
They own the content. Of course they are in charge.
who are the dicks now?? the content providers still? or hulu? or both??
...so I decided to watch 5th Element but Boxxee can't play Hulu anymore. No video store around here sells it and Blockbuster is a 25 minute drive away... Well, courtesy of bittorrent, I now 'own' a copy on my computer and just stream it to my tv. Got it much faster than driving to rent it too ;)
all your base are belong to the fedz - ip logged. information from isp subpoenaed. you've been served!
when will people stop bragging about pirating.
How long until all of the Boxee kids just get something like a Mac mini and hook it up to the TV?
What will sites like Hulu do then?
i hope this doesnt stop me from watching HULU on my Mac Mini using Plex. between youtube and HULU im watching twice as much content now.
The web developers at Hulu have got to be pretty ticked at their job. They all probably have tried Boxee, just like the rest of us, but get mandated left and right to "protect the content."
Writing a Javascript app to encrypt and decrypt video links has got to result in low job satisfaction...
How dumb can Hulu be? They have people going for their content WITH commercials. It's like trying to keep your ad revenue DOWN. Clearly they have plans for a set-top box and want sucker consumers to rent that for a monthly fee and STILL watch the commercials.
None of this makes any sense. When i DVR a show i skip ALL the commercials. When i watch a hulu show through playon on my ps3, i watch their fucking commercials, someone tell me how this is helping them by preventing people from watching their content and their commercials. Fucking Morons.
It's the content providers that want this crap put in.
What's that smell?
Oh, it must be the community goodwill that Hulu had built up being burned to the ground.
Or, instead of doing all this media server crap, you can do like booberry said and just use a computer. I have my XPS M170 laptop permanently hooked up to my 52" Samsung and bluetooth kybd and mouse on my coffee table. Works great for me! Don't even have to worry about how my videos are encoded and not working through the 360 or the PS3.
Word... i got a hp with a tuner in it, second run and wireless keyboard and mouse...
Has been the best setup ever..
The problem Boxee fans - and everyone who thinks all content should be free - is that Hulu's site is part of the business plan. Without traffic to the site and the ensuing derivatives, Hulu will go out of business and the content will be gone for everyone. Boxee circumvents the Hulu business model and uses the content without consent.
The content itself still contains ads.
Incorrect. The content is clearly labeled as being from Hulu, the ads display directly from Hulu (as they do on computers, they are not skippable), and time limited content is not accessible when that limit is reached (just like the website on the computer) .
TV revenue is better than internet revenue for the same # of people. Hulu discourages piracy, but they don't want it to take over traditional viewing methods.
Youtube is the best.
how about working with the open source community that is driving this web to TV push (finally (MSNTV anyone?) and figure out a why to mutually capitalize on the ability to stream internet content to the TV over various hardware? Perhaps even release a standalone box after all the development work has been done for you free of charge? Ahh hell what am I saying, money ruins open source...*cough*mozilla*cough* Perhaps another Ad model, interactive through the client (it is streaming the web after all, I'd love a link in Hulu ads to remind me to buy more laundry soap for instance, if I could click a button on my remote and add the event to my iCal I'd be in heaven) and perhaps if you want to watch the show on your TV there are longer ads, or maybe 3 ads per commercial break instead of just 1. All it takes is a little creative thinking. This company doesn't seem capable of that so I fear in the long run they are doomed.
Hulu (Fox/NBC -> Sony/GE) needs to get a new advertising scheme. I love the idea of showing only 1 TV spot per break (sometimes none), but they are failing right off the bat by selling the wrong product. The companies are selling TV spots to advertisers. This might have worked on TV, but selling TV spots on the internet is like selling airplane peanuts on a train. Sure, you can eat nuts on a train. But a train affords you the ability to have a stove and a cook, so trains sell steaks and chicken. Hulu (Fox/NBC) needs to start selling internet spots. Maybe a premium price for a 2.5 minute full length trailer before a 45 minute show. Maybe have a "serial advertisement" for per show where advertisers show a special advert made for internet distribution (a five part story of how a Sony Bravia saved the world, told in 164 seconds, for example). And where is this "user specific" advertising we have been promised? I don't want to see a Monostat commercial during "House" after my last 4 shows were "MacGyver", "Family Guy" and "Terminator".
So Broadcasting companies: it's time to figure this shit out! One way or another, the ethernet cable is getting into the living room whether you like it or not. And the clock is already ticking.
How about just giving up on these assholes? I already did. Ever since they blocked my XBMC I said goodbye. It may be cheap, but sitting in front a computer monitor is not worth the hassle. Yes I could plug my pc to my tv, but why go through all that for Hulu. Please.