Fox Mobile launches Bitbop beta, a Hulu for your phone
By Sean Hollister 
posted May 26th 2010 9:42PM
posted May 26th 2010 9:42PM
While Hulu might be missing out on the mobile space due to licensing issues, Fox Mobile-backed Bitbop is looking to step in and take the reins. The app, currently in beta and available only for select BlackBerry devices, has 25 content partners including Fox (of course), CBS, NBC, and Comedy Central. It's said to work over WiFi or even 3G data connections and is free so far, though a section in the FAQ intimates that Fox will also launch a premium plan with "unlimited, full-length, network TV shows with no commercial interruptions" for $10 a month, and mobile movie rentals are also apparently on the way. And never fear, Android and iPhone lovers -- mocoNews reports that apps for your smartphone of choice are coming, too. Let's hope Fox gets it working on Froyo, before Hulu kills that workaround.
Too expensive for my tastes, honestly. That's still $120 dollars a month ON TOP of the cable bill.
@techee44 You mean a year, but yes, it does add up, doesn't it?
@techee44 what is $120? I thought this was unlimited $10/month, sounds like hulu but they're not playing around with a free service at the start, not too bad.
@encler
Sorry, meant a year.
@techee44 I just can't believe they brought this to the family of devices with the worst screens for media watching. Hell, WinMo would have been a better choice if not for their pathetic market penetration. Also, if the yet-to-be-released OS 6 is as revolutionary, at least to BB, as they claim, they may have to rewrite a large portion of the app.
@encler
is 120- annually?
Why do they keep trying to charge to watch TV? Just put commercials in it and give it to us for free. We might actually use it then. We pay enough for TV already.
@Frogboy Well, CATV convinced Big Content that they can charge for TV *and* show commercials. The market will decide. If people won't pay the $10 monthly fee, then so much for that idea, right?
Are the shows accessible to the deaf with closed captions?!?
Who cares about the cripples.
@Deaf Wouldn't that be nice! I wish they would make the big companies CC their online content the same that they are required to do with everything they broadcast.
Nice, dont forget WP7, Web OS, and Symbian and you have yourself a top seller!
...at least for the free content anyway. Maybe they should make a desktop website for it too....that way people can replace Hulu all together (if possible)
I still don't get why they can't just allow streaming of broadcast television, sure people expect more interactivity on the interwebz but at least it's something
Finally us BB users get some love.
The article says it's free for now AND there will be a 10/month PREMIUM service. Doesn't say there won't be an add supported free version.
They do this AFTER they cancel 24? What else am I suppose to watch now, Prison Break? O WAIT they cancelled that too.
I guess I'll just force myself to watch Lie to Me and Human Target
maybe
Yes it's free, i had a beta test version for about a month now! runs beautifully on my curve!
A rich media content app available for blackberries only?
Too funny.
That is fucking DOPE. I want it!
Piece of shit app. They say the Tour is supported, then when they send me the link to download it, it takes me to a page that says "Your phone is not supported".
@JAYZ1881
I downloaded it on my Tour about a half an hour ago or so. My friend with a Tour did say he got the phone not supported message as well.
@JAYZ1881 Works for me. Are you still running 4.7 because maybe it requires 5.0
@JAYZ1881
Nope, im on 5.0
Tried it in the BB browser and in Opera Mini.
For Tour 9630 users that are having problems use this link:
http://mojito.bitbop.com/download/bitbop/RIM_9630/1.0.0/raptor-545904.jad?t=0000007557
@GTYellowJacket9
Awesome, this link works.
Thanks!
Why are they doing this but not allowing hulu on mobile phones. This is a serious question and I'm assuming the reason is that the content owners have a bigger share in this service and would get more of the profits compared to hulu.
I'm also confused on where we're supposed to be watching hulu. I understand that they don't want my computer hooked up to my tv cause they want me to have cable. I thought the whole point was that we were supposed to watch it on a small screen when we are away from a television. I thought that included phones until I got my pre and started researching Flash on WebOS.
why is there never a webos app :(
Hulu has already fixed the hole where you could watch tv if you change the ui string to desktop.
I don't understand why a workaround? I have a Nexus One with Froyo and I go to the browser and watch hulu perfectly.No workaround just as easy as typing hulu.com. I'm I the only one?
So is this free or not?
Launching on Blackberry first?
Are they mentally ill?
i think the networks should go to consumers directly, where you pay networks individually and can use their services universally for a flat rate(content streamed/downloaded via internet), just how people are now finally being able to buy movies and use them universally on their devices(like how u can get a blu-ray, dvd, and a digital copy[that can be used on multiple devices] all in one)
Assuming BitBop reads this - Why is the 8530 Curve not supported? It's essentially the 8900, which is, but without the crappy trac-ball.