4 ms·

Possibly, Hulu already does this and Netflix is rumored to start doing it soon. However, an important difference between old TV and current-day streaming is th

Possibly, Hulu already does this and Netflix is rumored to start doing it soon. However, an important difference between old TV and current-day streaming is that it is much easier to pirate shows that are streaming. There is an (ad-)free alternative to Hulu and Netflix that is becoming easier to use. At some point, streaming services may have to compete by not including ads.

jlg23 8y ago
> However, an important difference between old TV and current-day streaming is that it is much easier to pirate shows that are streaming. As someone who grew up recording (and distributing to friends) one-to-many streams (a.k.a. terrestrial TV), I wonder how it got easier. Just because nobody is using personalized watermarks to prove copyright infringement yet, does not mean a redistributor today ain't going to get sued tomorrow.
- icebraining 8y ago
  You can create an account with gift cards paid in cash, so I wish them good luck.
  - jlg23 8y ago
    In the US. Good luck in other countries[1]. [1] I've been to much more countries where the currency of choice is top-up cards for mobile phones. Master- and VISA-cards issued by local banks are usually only usable for national transactions - not to speak of gift cards, which just don't exist.
    - p1necone 8y ago
      In New Zealand you can buy prepaid credit cards with cash (and no personal information) that work anywhere visa/mastercard is accepted afaik.
    - icebraining 8y ago
      I'm not talking about Master/VISA gift cards, I'm talking about Netflix gift cards. I'm not in the US, yet they are readily available. According to [1], they seem to be available at least in the US, Canada, Australia, many European countries, Brazil, Malaysia and Japan. That's far from the whole world, but quite enough as a source of potential pirates. [1] https://help.netflix.com/en/node/32950/br https://help.netflix.com/en/node/32950/br
kbenson 8y ago
Hulu/Hulu Plus always advertised. I was very excited a year or two ago when they finally offered ad-free streaming for an additional few dollars.
- Spooky23 8y ago
  I was surprised that it took so long, those ads are not very valuable. My beef with Hulu wasn’t that there were ads, it was that there was one ad. I think it was Tampax Pearls when I was watching. I’m at the same point with MLB.tv. I get nauseous every time I hear about Pudge Rodriguez’s journey to Cooperstown thanks to Bank of America visa or the all new Chevy Traverse and its collection of JD Power awards.
  - sjg007 8y ago
    It's kind of weird when the don't have ads and the skip to the MLB will be right back screen.. You realize how many ads a baseball has. It's not like they show the warm up for the inning or anything or the 7th inning stretch.. nope just blank. I'd appreciate an MLB service that actually just kept playing through that.

jlg23 8y ago

> However, an important difference between old TV and current-day streaming is that it is much easier to pirate shows that are streaming. As someone who grew up recording (and distributing to friends) one-to-many streams (a.k.a. terrestrial TV), I wonder how it got easier. Just because nobody is using personalized watermarks to prove copyright infringement yet, does not mean a redistributor today ain't going to get sued tomorrow.

icebraining 8y ago
You can create an account with gift cards paid in cash, so I wish them good luck.
- jlg23 8y ago
  In the US. Good luck in other countries[1]. [1] I've been to much more countries where the currency of choice is top-up cards for mobile phones. Master- and VISA-cards issued by local banks are usually only usable for national transactions - not to speak of gift cards, which just don't exist.
  - p1necone 8y ago
    In New Zealand you can buy prepaid credit cards with cash (and no personal information) that work anywhere visa/mastercard is accepted afaik.
  - icebraining 8y ago
    I'm not talking about Master/VISA gift cards, I'm talking about Netflix gift cards. I'm not in the US, yet they are readily available. According to [1], they seem to be available at least in the US, Canada, Australia, many European countries, Brazil, Malaysia and Japan. That's far from the whole world, but quite enough as a source of potential pirates. [1] https://help.netflix.com/en/node/32950/br https://help.netflix.com/en/node/32950/br

kbenson 8y ago

Hulu/Hulu Plus always advertised. I was very excited a year or two ago when they finally offered ad-free streaming for an additional few dollars.

Spooky23 8y ago
I was surprised that it took so long, those ads are not very valuable. My beef with Hulu wasn’t that there were ads, it was that there was one ad. I think it was Tampax Pearls when I was watching. I’m at the same point with MLB.tv. I get nauseous every time I hear about Pudge Rodriguez’s journey to Cooperstown thanks to Bank of America visa or the all new Chevy Traverse and its collection of JD Power awards.
- sjg007 8y ago
  It's kind of weird when the don't have ads and the skip to the MLB will be right back screen.. You realize how many ads a baseball has. It's not like they show the warm up for the inning or anything or the 7th inning stretch.. nope just blank. I'd appreciate an MLB service that actually just kept playing through that.