5 ms·

I tried Hulu Plus for exactly 5 minutes, then I realized that the shows that I wanted to watch didn't have their previous seasons available or even episodes fro

I tried Hulu Plus for exactly 5 minutes, then I realized that the shows that I wanted to watch didn't have their previous seasons available or even episodes from earlier in a season. What is the rationalle behind that?! If I'm a new viewer to a show, why would I pay if I can't watch a series or at least a season from the beginning? So it was back to piracy for me.

smackfu 14y ago
I think a better way to look at is that if you are currently buying all your shows on iTunes, Hulu+ could save you quite a bit of money if you are willing to watch some ads. Like you get The Daily Show on Hulu+, which would normally run you about $15-20 a month if you were buying it. It complements NetFlix well in that regard too. Comparing it to piracy seems silly.
- jaredsohn 14y ago
  I think the main difference in content between Netflix and Hulu Plus is that Hulu Plus gives you access to episodes from the current season (and often the full season beyond the most recent ones available on regular Hulu.) Also, the Daily Show isn't a great example since episodes deal with news so I can't imagine many people buying up old episodes. (And you can get free episodes going back a month at http://www.thedailyshow.com/ http://www.thedailyshow.com/) Edit: The Daily Show is actually an okay example now that I realize that you wanted Hulu+ for the non-desktop experience rather than for back episodes.
  - smackfu 14y ago
    Both of which are desktop solutions. Yes, they kinda work on a TV with mirroring and such but they don't have a good couch / remote experience like AppleTV or the various other systems. If my non-techie girlfriend can't figure it out easily, then it's not worth my time.
    - hatcravat 14y ago
      Hmmm... I think you're still missing the point, so let me try. The point was that for most TV shows the viewer is likely going to watch the entire series not just the current season. The GP's point was not that the back catalog is available for free in a clunky way, but that that most viewers won't care about old episodes. `
    - jaredsohn 14y ago
      Agreed that if you want to be able to watch recent shows on non-desktop systems, Hulu+ is a good choice. (Added an edit to previous comment.) I just don't understand the statement "It complements NetFlix well in that regard too." in the context of your previous comment. Hulu+ complements Netflix in a different way than it complements iTunes. While Hulu+ offers a way to get a lot of iTunes content for a flat monthly rate (albeit with commercials), Hulu+'s advantage over Netflix is getting newer content.
      - smackfu 14y ago
        >Hulu+ complements Netflix in a different way than it complements iTunes. My meaning was that both fill in the "current season" gap that Netflix has.
jschuur 14y ago
Broadcasters weren't giving them the rights to the shows they still want to sell on DVD or VOD.
eitally 14y ago
Here's a specific example my wife discovered last night. Downtown Abbey Season 2 is not available on Netflix or PBS (which does typically offer streaming without much delay), but the whole season is available on Hulu. I will say, though, that for every time this happens, there have been ten other times where Hulu only had the previous five episodes. If Hulu+ offered the full current season it would be so much more worth it.

smackfu 14y ago

I think a better way to look at is that if you are currently buying all your shows on iTunes, Hulu+ could save you quite a bit of money if you are willing to watch some ads. Like you get The Daily Show on Hulu+, which would normally run you about $15-20 a month if you were buying it. It complements NetFlix well in that regard too. Comparing it to piracy seems silly.

jaredsohn 14y ago
I think the main difference in content between Netflix and Hulu Plus is that Hulu Plus gives you access to episodes from the current season (and often the full season beyond the most recent ones available on regular Hulu.) Also, the Daily Show isn't a great example since episodes deal with news so I can't imagine many people buying up old episodes. (And you can get free episodes going back a month at http://www.thedailyshow.com/ http://www.thedailyshow.com/) Edit: The Daily Show is actually an okay example now that I realize that you wanted Hulu+ for the non-desktop experience rather than for back episodes.
- smackfu 14y ago
  Both of which are desktop solutions. Yes, they kinda work on a TV with mirroring and such but they don't have a good couch / remote experience like AppleTV or the various other systems. If my non-techie girlfriend can't figure it out easily, then it's not worth my time.
  - hatcravat 14y ago
    Hmmm... I think you're still missing the point, so let me try. The point was that for most TV shows the viewer is likely going to watch the entire series not just the current season. The GP's point was not that the back catalog is available for free in a clunky way, but that that most viewers won't care about old episodes. `
  - jaredsohn 14y ago
    Agreed that if you want to be able to watch recent shows on non-desktop systems, Hulu+ is a good choice. (Added an edit to previous comment.) I just don't understand the statement "It complements NetFlix well in that regard too." in the context of your previous comment. Hulu+ complements Netflix in a different way than it complements iTunes. While Hulu+ offers a way to get a lot of iTunes content for a flat monthly rate (albeit with commercials), Hulu+'s advantage over Netflix is getting newer content.
    - smackfu 14y ago
      >Hulu+ complements Netflix in a different way than it complements iTunes. My meaning was that both fill in the "current season" gap that Netflix has.

jschuur 14y ago

Broadcasters weren't giving them the rights to the shows they still want to sell on DVD or VOD.

eitally 14y ago

Here's a specific example my wife discovered last night. Downtown Abbey Season 2 is not available on Netflix or PBS (which does typically offer streaming without much delay), but the whole season is available on Hulu. I will say, though, that for every time this happens, there have been ten other times where Hulu only had the previous five episodes. If Hulu+ offered the full current season it would be so much more worth it.