NYT: Hulu planning iPad app, might be subscription based
We've been hearing whispers about a Hulu app for the iPad since the day Apple's tablet was announced, and things are starting to pick up steam: the New York Times says four different people familiar with Hulu's plans have said the app is coming, and that it will potentially require a subscription fee. That either makes a lot of sense (if you're a TV network exec looking to keep the Aston padding on your paycheck) or absolutely none at all (if you're everyone else), but it certainly seems like it's happening -- especially since Hulu CEO Jason Kilar told the Times that he's "open to subscriptions as a complement to the ad-supported model." That's as close to a confirmation as we've ever heard, but we've got a feeling Apple's putting the full-court press on Hulu and other networks like CBS -- we'd expect to see this go from rumor to reality relatively soon.























I'd pay a small subscription price IF Hulu went FULLY paid- If Hulu goes paid AND free- I won't DL the paid app period.
@think before you react
exactly, only stupid people would actually pay to use hulu on their ipad when they can use it for free everywhere else.
@abedinthehouse
by the same token, if they were smart, they would give the USER the OPTION to either have ads with no subscription fee, or no ads with a subscription fee. CHOICE IS GOOD.
Requiring ads AND requiring a subscription fee is just an epic fail.
@crawdad689
fuck thats the sort of thing that might knock hulu off its high horse
@crawdad689 i'm with that. I don't mind like one ad at the beginning of the video or when you open the app, but nix the in video ones. especially in the movies. they are always at the worst times (cause they are done on a time marker and not at a logical scene break)
and give us more eps than just the last 5.
@think before you react
Ummm, how bout we just let the early iPad adopters pay ridiculous subscription fees for Hulu to subsidize our continued free use?
@nickexperience
Live iPad review on Twit TV right now - http://live.twit.tv/
@reader1
HEY! have no fear, reader1 is here. Where you been? i've missed your trolling.
@WP7S
Actually I don't pay for cable television BECAUSE it's absolutely ridiculously priced.
I MAYBE watch about 4 current shows. To make it worse, one of them is on HBO, and one of them is on Showtime. I'm not ok with spending $100 a month to watch these shows AND to have 18 minutes of commercials for every hour I watch.
Hulu CAN be profitable. I realize it's not even somewhat sustainable for customers to consume this media for free. I would be willing to "rent" tv episodes, if they were priced reasonably, and I'm willing to watch their ads, when it means that I don't have to pay.
The other side to this equation is that internet-based advertising can be MUCH MUCH more targeted than cable TV advertising, and thus, Hulu can charge a lot more for it.
They'll eventually figure everything out. But again, to answer your question, myself as well as a good number of my friends, refuse to pay for cable TV, because it is nothing but overpriced junk.
@crawdad689 - Sorry to say but they will most likely go for a cable style "land grab", PAID SUBSCRIPTION AND COMMERCIALS. Believe that!!
Make this work on the upcoming Sprint Evo 4G, and you will have my subscription fees covered in drool.
@surfernerd6987: I too would gladly send them many of my hard earned dollars if this service is available (and ideally tailored) for the EVO.
@surfernerd6987
Android has Flash, skip the fees and view it through the website.
@surfernerd6987 has it been confirmed yet that EVO will support flash?
@surfernerd6987 If Android has it, the Evo has it but yes HTC confirmed it will eventuallyhave Flash 10.1.
@Kinte Kunta You can switch the user agent to desktop through options.
Have fun paying for free services.
@HighestRanked2
Why would they? They're releasing an app for the iPad, which because of it's Flash limitations has a chance to be a successful place for a subscription service. If that happened on their website people would simply switch to the numerous free streaming sites on the web including the networks legal versions running Flash.
@HighestRanked2 The thing is if they did that, they have no chance at a subscription iPad app. The only reason this is possible is lash because without the option of Flash, Hulu can charge for Hulu and call it something like Hulu Mobile. With Flash that'd be impossible, there's too many alternatives that allow free streaming.
@TheGM
Have fun waiting for it to buffer....and freeze. Hulu doesn't run well on a 2ghz Atom processor or ULV intel processor with integrated graphics and 2gb RAM.... good luck on a mobile device!
Hulu app is the only way it's going to be usable on a mobile device the size of an ipad or netbook. End of story.
Well, that does sound like the whole Flash blah blah will finally get a little more settled.
@grandmainger Yeah, Flash still gonna remain, and There is app for that. Why this situation remind me ally bank ad?
Apple-"Would you like have best web experience? Here is app for that." People-"What should I pay for it?" Apple- "You didn't tell me you want that for free"
@raiden8383 Also I just think about sit on my couch, and watching Hulu on iPad like other people said.
Wait? Why did I buy 47" 1080p HD TV? Why do i have to pay for it?
I hook up my laptop via HDMI, and watching Hulu. Email, and Social Networking? There is smartphone on my hands :)
So I think about take iPad out. Than it should be work! Hm....another 3G plan??Oh I can get WIFI from my job and school(or *Bucks).
I think iPad would be good who does not have smartphone or netbook.
of course it's subscription only.. that LCD is pretty high res..
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/30/ipads-trailing-costs-like-the-ipod-touch-only-bigger
If Hulu will be making real money from subscriptions... can they finally have more that 5 episodes of new shows?
I know why they don't now... they want people to watch on a real TV so all those advertisers pay the bill.
Will this subscription be enough to finally let us have everything we want?
@Michael Scrip I'd still rather have netflix... you likely pay a bit more than this would cost but no commercials.
@Michael Scrip I agree, some shows I've lost because they dont stream online. I recently cut my Comcast bill, and I'd love to see some of my AE, DiscoveryChannel, and others online also.
The iPad could get costly with all those monthly fees.
Hulu should do this free, just like they should allow the ps3 browser and boxee. (not going to happen :-( )
@10nisman94
Unfortunately, Jobs don't wan't to jeopardize his apps store by allowing Hulu to let people watch "free" stuff. Oh well, Sprint 4g EVO is the the iphone 4g :) that run Android
If they were smart, they would give the USER the OPTION to have ads for no fee, or no ads for a fee.
Having ads AND a monthly fee is an extra large helping of fail.... :-/
flash = buggy ?
or
flash = revenue killer ?
Hmm... have to think about it ;)....
Excuse me, but if I'm going to be paying for this thing, I don't want ads too.
@thejdude Just like cable TV.
Ridiculous!! The Internet is the Internet... Ipad users must pay a premium to access it? F that s im gonna boycott apple and hulu
wow, I guess that the flash argument is getting a little out of date. It is sad because I didn't want an IPAD. I wanted the HP SLATE. Now I'm confused... :(
@inrage33
Save up $1000 and get both
what about ANDROID Hulu?!
@Snarf101
If it proves successful and they make money they'll move from the iPad to everything else including the iPhone, Android and even WindowsMoble 4 as the $ comes in.
@TheGM Hopefully though once Flash comes to Android, you'll be able to skip the fees and go straight to the website.
@Kinte Kunta Like the block the PS3...until you simply get around it with a user agent switch, or a proxy, or even another website. As long as you have Flash, it shouldn't be a problem.
@Kinte Kunta
Err no, the android browser has an option to make websites think it is a desktop computer (I don't know if windows mobile or the iphone have that feature).
@zsmorr There is MOD developer for that. Don't worry.
@Kinte Kunta
What? It doesn't require a hack, it's simply in options. I doubt Hulu enables subscription on the website due to the fact theres numerous sites that offers free streaming of shows on the web. If they did,t hen everyone including those with Flash on their mobiles would move to those websites.
What's your next excuse?
Hmm pay a monthly fee for something that's already free on my desktop.... Yea this might be a though one /s
@thinkindependent Same thing happens with flash games. Go team Apple! /s
@Kinte Kunta
That wasn't his point genius. There are several flash games that have been turned into iphone games and you have to pay for the iphone ones. I can think of at least two off the top of my head, and I am sure there are more.
Why would I pay for Hulu when they have shown they break software in the past? How long until they get in a fight with Apple and shut off service? That's their MO.
Oh goody. Widescreen HD content on a 4:3 low def screen. Joy.
@metric It's actually not low definition. Last time I checked 1024 by 768 qualified as 720p, which is actually HD.
@iwasakabukiman nope it's too narrow. Can't get full 720p that way.
720p is 1280x720