6 ms·

Hands-on with Hulu Plus: is it worth $10/month?

22 points by abennett 16y ago

hugh3 16y ago
Sounds like a no. But I assume the strategy is to slowly move everything across from "regular" to "plus". Still, at a significant fraction of the cost of a Netflix subscription, which really does give value for money, I can't see myself ever paying it.
- kgermino 16y ago
  Actually if your primary interest is online streaming netflix offers unlimited streaming in their 8.99 a month plan, a bit less than hulu.
  - terrellm 16y ago
    It's even further cheaper when you place a value on your time spent watching Hulu's commercials. Not to mention the decreased entertainment experience from the commercial interruptions.
    - hugh3 16y ago
      Hulu ads aren't bad. Mute the computer and switch to another tab for thirty seconds. Far better than ads on actual television, since you know exactly when they're going to end, and even if you miss it you can always rewind.
      - terrellm 16y ago
        It's all about perspective - when comparing to actual television sure Hulu's single ad is a welcome breath of fresh air. When compared to Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, DVD, etc ads become distracting whether it's 1 ad or multiple ads - you are interrupted from the task at and either way. BTW I certainly don't want to come across as sounding entitled. I realize advertisers help pay the bill so that I can enjoy great shows.
    - joubert 16y ago
      They insert ads into movies? That is a dealbreaker.
    - tremendo 16y ago
      I like of Netflix that the kids can play it on the Wii while I watch something else on the laptop. Some newer big-screen TVs also come Netflix-ready these days. Does Hulu play on anything non-computer?
dcurtis 16y ago
The letdown of Hulu Plus and the horrendous monstrosity that is Netflix (and its even worse iPad app) are at least movements in the right direction. I find solace in the mere idea that one day I might be able to go to a website, select an episode, and watch television content on my computer screen. I don't know why this is so hard. I am willing to pay money for it! I will open my wallet and pay money to watch TV on my computer! Even with ads!
- Dobbs 16y ago
  > horrendous monstrosity that is Netflix What is wrong with Netflix (besides silverlight)? I used the service for a very long time to satisfy almost all of my TV viewing needs.
  - joubert 16y ago
    I love netflix. I usually watch on a big ass TV via PS3 - bluray discs, regular DVD, and streaming.
  - staunch 16y ago
    Agreed. I find Netflix "Watch Instantly" to be fantastic. The iPad app is prone to problems, and the content isn't quite there, but it's still unbelievably amazing. For $10/mo I have unlimited viewing of thousands of movies/shows. For anyone that grew up with VHS tapes that's just staggering. I have only two requests: Even more content (I'd pay $20/mo for 5 times more content), and a more solid iPad app.
  - cwilson 16y ago
    I was about the ask the same question. My girlfriend and I watch TV shows via Netflix on our Roku almost every evening and the experience is very good. The only problem is everything is a bit dated (with a few exceptions), but it's still entertaining and the back log is big enough to last us for at least a year of casual use. The DVD service I can't really complain about as it does exactly what they say it will do, delivers DVDs to my door within a day for much cheaper then renting at Blockbuster.
- Groxx 16y ago
yanowitz 16y ago
I'm looking at it as a way to replace cable tv for first run network shows (30 rock, modern family, etc.). They say they will stream that stuff at 720p. I'd love to know how that compared to comcast. I would watch with a Mac mini attached to the tv.
- jolan 16y ago
  Get an antenna.
  - iamjustlooking 16y ago
    Yep, I have a HD antenna and watch network TV in 1080p. Sadly I think most people are conditioned to believe that you cant get these channels without cable.
    - jolan 16y ago
      Sad especially considering that you can record TV via Windows Media Center for a couple hundred bucks in hardware and no monthly fee.
    - simonista 16y ago
      Could you please explain or link to more information about how this works?
      - detst 16y ago
        Get an antenna from <any store that sells TVs>, plug it into your HD-ready TV and scan for channels. You should get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and other local channels. Most channels have sub-channels that might show weather, alternate programming or older shows from the 70s or 80s. If you don't have an HD-ready TV, you can get a converter box from the same store that you plug your antenna into. If you asking about the 1080p part, most (all?) HD channels broadcast in 720p or 1080i.
        16y ago
gkoberger 16y ago
If they want it to be worth $10 (or more), there's one big thing they'd need to do: live streaming (or, at least upload shows right when the episode ends). Like Dustin Curtis said, "Netflix killed Blockbuster, but Hulu is going to kill Netflix. So much death, and I still can't watch fucking live TV on the internet."
- Groxx 16y ago
  That's an awesome quote, hadn't seen it before! Pretty much sums it all up, doesn't it?
- jolan 16y ago
  I totally agree. Most TV shows appear on BitTorrent networks within an hour of airing. Why can't hulu beat those delivery times when they have a partnership with the content producers?
  - fungi 16y ago
    fan subed anime is up within an hour... local distribution is 12+ months behind.
- hugh3 16y ago
  Wait, why would I want to pay to watch whatever's on right now? I have a TV and an antenna for that.
  - Groxx 16y ago
    Then you're not exactly their target audience... and not everyone has free OTA access to the shows they want to watch, if it's even aired that way. For instance: I haven't seen Bill Nye since PBS stopped airing his show.
  - detst 16y ago
    Because most live sporting events don't broadcast for your antenna to receive. Maybe that doesn't matter to you but it does to me. I just want a service that will stream all of the sports I currently get on basic cable (local teams and nationally televised games), along with what I can get from Hulu. It would also be nice to be able to get a daily or monthly stream of a channel on an a la carte basis.
joubert 16y ago
ABC has an iPad app, and they've been adding more and more tv shows (and they do all episodes). Would be cool if other networks did the same. For movies, nothing beats netflix (I don't really watch TV, but I devour 3 to 4 films a week).
chrischen 16y ago
You don't even need Hulu plus to watch on a PS3. Hulu blocks PS3's user agent string. You can just proxy the PS3 through a computer and replace the user agent string.

22 points by abennett 16y ago

hugh3 16y ago

Sounds like a no. But I assume the strategy is to slowly move everything across from "regular" to "plus". Still, at a significant fraction of the cost of a Netflix subscription, which really does give value for money, I can't see myself ever paying it.

kgermino 16y ago
Actually if your primary interest is online streaming netflix offers unlimited streaming in their 8.99 a month plan, a bit less than hulu.
- terrellm 16y ago
  It's even further cheaper when you place a value on your time spent watching Hulu's commercials. Not to mention the decreased entertainment experience from the commercial interruptions.
  - hugh3 16y ago
    Hulu ads aren't bad. Mute the computer and switch to another tab for thirty seconds. Far better than ads on actual television, since you know exactly when they're going to end, and even if you miss it you can always rewind.
    - terrellm 16y ago
      It's all about perspective - when comparing to actual television sure Hulu's single ad is a welcome breath of fresh air. When compared to Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, DVD, etc ads become distracting whether it's 1 ad or multiple ads - you are interrupted from the task at and either way. BTW I certainly don't want to come across as sounding entitled. I realize advertisers help pay the bill so that I can enjoy great shows.
  - joubert 16y ago
    They insert ads into movies? That is a dealbreaker.
  - tremendo 16y ago
    I like of Netflix that the kids can play it on the Wii while I watch something else on the laptop. Some newer big-screen TVs also come Netflix-ready these days. Does Hulu play on anything non-computer?

dcurtis 16y ago

The letdown of Hulu Plus and the horrendous monstrosity that is Netflix (and its even worse iPad app) are at least movements in the right direction. I find solace in the mere idea that one day I might be able to go to a website, select an episode, and watch television content on my computer screen. I don't know why this is so hard. I am willing to pay money for it! I will open my wallet and pay money to watch TV on my computer! Even with ads!

Dobbs 16y ago
> horrendous monstrosity that is Netflix What is wrong with Netflix (besides silverlight)? I used the service for a very long time to satisfy almost all of my TV viewing needs.
- joubert 16y ago
  I love netflix. I usually watch on a big ass TV via PS3 - bluray discs, regular DVD, and streaming.
- staunch 16y ago
  Agreed. I find Netflix "Watch Instantly" to be fantastic. The iPad app is prone to problems, and the content isn't quite there, but it's still unbelievably amazing. For $10/mo I have unlimited viewing of thousands of movies/shows. For anyone that grew up with VHS tapes that's just staggering. I have only two requests: Even more content (I'd pay $20/mo for 5 times more content), and a more solid iPad app.
- cwilson 16y ago
  I was about the ask the same question. My girlfriend and I watch TV shows via Netflix on our Roku almost every evening and the experience is very good. The only problem is everything is a bit dated (with a few exceptions), but it's still entertaining and the back log is big enough to last us for at least a year of casual use. The DVD service I can't really complain about as it does exactly what they say it will do, delivers DVDs to my door within a day for much cheaper then renting at Blockbuster.
Groxx 16y ago

yanowitz 16y ago

I'm looking at it as a way to replace cable tv for first run network shows (30 rock, modern family, etc.). They say they will stream that stuff at 720p. I'd love to know how that compared to comcast. I would watch with a Mac mini attached to the tv.

jolan 16y ago
Get an antenna.
- iamjustlooking 16y ago
  Yep, I have a HD antenna and watch network TV in 1080p. Sadly I think most people are conditioned to believe that you cant get these channels without cable.
  - jolan 16y ago
    Sad especially considering that you can record TV via Windows Media Center for a couple hundred bucks in hardware and no monthly fee.
  - simonista 16y ago
    Could you please explain or link to more information about how this works?
    - detst 16y ago
      Get an antenna from <any store that sells TVs>, plug it into your HD-ready TV and scan for channels. You should get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and other local channels. Most channels have sub-channels that might show weather, alternate programming or older shows from the 70s or 80s. If you don't have an HD-ready TV, you can get a converter box from the same store that you plug your antenna into. If you asking about the 1080p part, most (all?) HD channels broadcast in 720p or 1080i.
      - 16y ago

gkoberger 16y ago

If they want it to be worth $10 (or more), there's one big thing they'd need to do: live streaming (or, at least upload shows right when the episode ends). Like Dustin Curtis said, "Netflix killed Blockbuster, but Hulu is going to kill Netflix. So much death, and I still can't watch fucking live TV on the internet."

Groxx 16y ago
That's an awesome quote, hadn't seen it before! Pretty much sums it all up, doesn't it?
jolan 16y ago
I totally agree. Most TV shows appear on BitTorrent networks within an hour of airing. Why can't hulu beat those delivery times when they have a partnership with the content producers?
- fungi 16y ago
  fan subed anime is up within an hour... local distribution is 12+ months behind.
hugh3 16y ago
Wait, why would I want to pay to watch whatever's on right now? I have a TV and an antenna for that.
- Groxx 16y ago
  Then you're not exactly their target audience... and not everyone has free OTA access to the shows they want to watch, if it's even aired that way. For instance: I haven't seen Bill Nye since PBS stopped airing his show.
- detst 16y ago
  Because most live sporting events don't broadcast for your antenna to receive. Maybe that doesn't matter to you but it does to me. I just want a service that will stream all of the sports I currently get on basic cable (local teams and nationally televised games), along with what I can get from Hulu. It would also be nice to be able to get a daily or monthly stream of a channel on an a la carte basis.

joubert 16y ago

ABC has an iPad app, and they've been adding more and more tv shows (and they do all episodes). Would be cool if other networks did the same. For movies, nothing beats netflix (I don't really watch TV, but I devour 3 to 4 films a week).

chrischen 16y ago

You don't even need Hulu plus to watch on a PS3. Hulu blocks PS3's user agent string. You can just proxy the PS3 through a computer and replace the user agent string.