Hulu says HTML5 'doesn't yet meet all of our customers' needs'
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 13th 2010 1:23PM
posted May 13th 2010 1:23PM
As you may be aware, Hulu rolled out an updated version of its video player today, but what you may not have noticed is that the company also took advantage of the occasion to briefly talk about HTML5. In a post on the Hulu blog (which has curiously since been pulled, though it remains in the RSS feed), Hulu's VP of Product Eugene Wei took a moment for an "aside on HTML5," in which he said that while Hulu continues to monitor developments on HTML5, "as of now it doesn't yet meet all of our customers' needs." Wei further goes on to note that Hulu's player doesn't just stream video, that it also must do things like secure the content, handle reporting for advertisers, and do "dozens of other things that aren't necessarily visible to the end user" -- all of which are critically important for Hulu and often part of contractual requirements. Of course, Wei also notes that it's possible that HTML5 will one day meet those needs, but it doesn't look like a switch is coming anytime soon.
Translation: HTML5 doesn't yet support our DRM.
Meh, whatevr.
@chorx
Well. I know it doesn't meet the needs of interactive vector animators.
Today anyway.
@chorx yupp o well flash will stay on top till html5 can get real drm protection
@chorx
DRM = you watching shows online for free.
I'm sure they'll happily adopt HTML5 if you're willing to pony up some cash. Wait, you don't have a job? You get all of your games and movies from BitTorrent? Oh, right. You're the "average internet commenter."
Extended Translation:
Apple Listen Up: You want your users to have Hulu access, you better let us use Flash.
@PeterJames
even if iDevices had flash today, Hulu blocks all mobile devices from accessing Hulu.
Myth Busted
@PeterJames you cant watch hulu on any mobile devices if it has flash or not.
@chorx Of course Apple doesn't need DRM, being as how they expertly box you into their platform. I'd forgive them more if iTunes movies didn't run slow as shit on my ION equipped netbook. Or if I could use something other than iTunes to watch movies.
@MattsZ Really?
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2010/04/hulu_android_app_revealed_by_google_search.html
Myth Unbusted.
Don't let Captain Lockdown findout - he'll shat the bed!
@MattsZ
not the N900. If we had Flash 10 now, we'd be able to watch Hulu no problem. Right now, its choppy.
@chorx
Actually, what you said was: "Meh, whatevr."
@christexaport what you're missing is that Hulu will explicitly block the N900 as well... just as it blocks JuJu, PS3 and everything else that isn't a netbook, laptop, desktop...
:check:
@chorx dude u are watching a TV Show for free and you are complainimg you can't download it and pirate it. HULU has every right to protect their properties from people like you.
@MattsZ
Suck it, Jobs!
@1mc That's not what I said at all.
@Dig Deep
SVG + SMIL
You need SMIL to pass the Acid3 test. Safari 4, Chrome 2, FF 3.6, Opera 10 and IE9 all support it.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Soccer_ball_animated.svg
Don't let Captain Lockdown findout - he'll shat the bed!
@PeterJames
That link doesn't mean anything. So somewhere down deep Hulu has an Android app that may never see the light of day. Big deal. It also says, "There is a slight mention of an iPhone app as well," but we know that's not happening any time soon. The point is that Hulu's official position on mobile devices currently is no-go, Flash or no Flash.
@chorx
TL;DR.
@PeterJames
really? you actually have the audacity to post a link to rumors?
smh... fuck it, i quit, Lord Vader can take it from here
@Sisyphus phew!!!! just cuz u r a rich kid with lotsa money... u dont have to rub everybody's nose in it... its not just the job less who want free stuff... plus.. its not technically free.... u r paying for the internet and u r time watching ads. duh!!!
@Seanlee83 Actually you're wrong. Android does hulu with the skyfire browser. It runs smoothly on 3g or wifi on nexus too.
@chorx
Translation: we actually can't lock non PC / laptop users out with html 5 ( as easily ), so we'll stick with proprietary proxy scanning flash.
Assholes
@chorx Did they mention why they don't have an iPhone/iPad app yet? Lazy
@chorx
HTML5 doesn't meet anyone's needs because it doesn't exist, and won't for many years to come.
@chorx
As a web developer, I've been saying the lack of DRM for HTML5 is going to be one of its biggest downfalls in terms of acceptance by large content providers, and the last time I said that, I was got pretty much the same reaction as you. Hulu proves my point. HTML5 still needs to add a lot of missing features before it can truly replace flash, even in something as simple as video.
@stevejobs
Take that... adobe +1
@revmixman
Skyfire has the option to be viewed as either a PC or android phone depending on what you want. Is that not something to do with it
@jakey
DRM is not as much of a concern I think bacause there are ways to mask and not allow access to file locations.. The biggest concern is that the video api doesn't allow streaming video!
For those less tech savvy, the flash wrapper allows the same videos to be streamed.. This is flash's biggest advantage.
@zeroinfinity2
Not progressive download,but true streaming.
@Sisyphus Wow you really jump to conclusions... What Chorx is talking about isn't mutually exclusive to what you're talking about -
"Meeting our customer's needs" is Hulu's nice way to say "We can't put this content out there without DRM, and HTML5 doesn't have that yet!"
Nothing to do with who can afford what (maybe you can't, I don't know, not judging you), or who is trying to pirate stuff (maybe you do that too, I don't know, again, not judging you), but you guys are sort of talking about the same thing.
@PeterJames actually that app for Android just proves that the issue of no flash isn't really so much. cause Hulu is not opposed to making apps.
so it all comes down to whether Hulu can effectively monetize and protect the streams for their customers (being the studios and networks) using a native iphone/ipad. and with 1 million and growing users to hit, you can bet they are working on the issue.
@PeterJames
BZZZT wrong. All Hulu has to do is make an app. Native app > HTML.
And since they ARE making an app, that solves that problem.
@KarlW
Flash animators and artists don't write code.
@Rwilson Because they can't use any cross platform toolkits to develop it... ZING! :)
@Seanlee83 "You can not view Hulu on any mobile device if it has flash or not."
Hmmm, unless its a mobile device running Windows 7... like say for instance a tablet running Windows 7!
@MattsZ
Spoofed user agent
Myth Busted
@Sisyphus More people will pony up cash when there is truly DRM-free content for sale. Buying video from iTunes, for example, still tethers the video to iTunes account, an "authorized" computer, etc. Plus sites like Hulu, Fancast and many more don't allow people outside the US to watch. Not only are the media companies leaving money on the tab, they are not leaving much choice to tens of thousands (dare I say millions) of people who are hungry for content.
I'm willing to bet that people will pay for content, it's the media companies that feel entitled.
@chorx Agree, that's why flash and HTML 5 should help each other. Not fight. http://j.mp/steve-jobs-v-apple-review
@revmixman I have the Nexus One and Skyfire, and no they do not play Hulu. Hulu blocks Skyfire. Period.
Android does not need anyone to lie for it to succeed.
@PeterJames
Hulu is going to use a mobile app to support Apple devices. It'll cost money, but that's the price of "thinking different."
Hulu should use whatever it wants on its own web site or video platform. It's nobody's business but Hulu for whatever reasons they claim. Though I'm sure they're getting kickbacks from Adobe. Ssshhh. It's a well-kept secret.
@Sisyphus DRM actually equals not allowing Hulu to be accessible in anything but a web browser. A few set top boxes tried to provide access to Hulu, but Hulu went out of their way to try to block it from happening.
Hulu is owned by NBC who is now owned by Comcast, so you'd better believe they have a vested interest in controlling the content and the way it's delivered. chorx is right.
Well Duh!
Only Apple pushes for an incomplete, unadvised standard. All in its due time.
@Tohe
This.
There's no need to rush on that, since the DRAFT will only be ready in 2012 and the final spec will come after 2020 - plenty of time for HTML5 to mature, gain all the fuctionalities needed.
@Verythrax
Good point, but it doesn't make sense for Apple to be pushing a technology that clearly isn't ready yet.
@Verythrax
HTML is NOT WiFi 802.11N you know...IEEE does not have control over it...neither does anyone else...it is a gradual evolution...
@Tohe Yes, but remember. It was their pushing of USB in the original iMac's, and not including external parallel or SCSI ports that really pushed peripheral manufacturers to include USB on their products.
@Tohe : I doubt HTML5 will ever include the "screw the user" feature.
@Tohe
To this I say Duh as well.