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This misses the biggest "wtf" moment for me as a netflix user when I first started using Hulu plus (ie I was actually paying for the service): there are still a

This misses the biggest "wtf" moment for me as a netflix user when I first started using Hulu plus (ie I was actually paying for the service): there are still ads!

majormajor 14y ago
Hulu Plus makes much more sense when viewed as a cable alternative (where there are also ads, but you pay a lot more) than a Netflix alternative. Netflix is going to try to get into the first-run content market, but right now if you don't have cable or OTA TV but want to be able to legally see any shows during their season, for just a fixed subscription fee, Hulu Plus is the option (though sadly it's missing a lot of stuff I'd like to see—I'd gladly pay at least $20 if it covered all the major broadcast and cable channels' original shows).
- markelliot 14y ago
  The problem with comparing Hulu to cable is that with my cable subscription I'm free to record shows and play them back later - without the ads. Similarly, the on demand content rarely includes ads, and when it does they're sparse and extremely short. I often find myself starting to watch live tv shows about 20 minutes late and playing it as it records so that I can see the show the night it airs _and_ avoid ads. When Hulu will let me do this, I'll drop cable. (that said, I realize the premium I pay for these privileges and others with cable is steeper than it should be)
evoxed 14y ago
I had the same exact reaction. A whole hour of "what the hell? Do they not activate accounts on weekends or something?" Going back and forth between my laptop and the PS3 I finally found and read the FAQ one more time without skimming when I saw them pointing it out. I've gotten used to it now, although I wish they were a little more sympathetic– the connection occasionally craps out causing everything to freeze up, the only way to get back being either to stop and restart or turn the whole thing off. It would be nice if it could remember that I just saw two ads, for the third time in a row (and for some reason, the issues are only with hulu). Feature request: localized ads! I hate the US ads, but don't really trust Hulu JP content– I'd rather just watch the Japanese ads if they're the same as what's on tv. They're somehow less presumptuous, easier to ignore, or better-feeling when they're good (BOSS).

This misses the biggest "wtf" moment for me as a netflix user when I first started using Hulu plus (ie I was actually paying for the service): there are still ads!

majormajor 14y ago

Hulu Plus makes much more sense when viewed as a cable alternative (where there are also ads, but you pay a lot more) than a Netflix alternative. Netflix is going to try to get into the first-run content market, but right now if you don't have cable or OTA TV but want to be able to legally see any shows during their season, for just a fixed subscription fee, Hulu Plus is the option (though sadly it's missing a lot of stuff I'd like to see—I'd gladly pay at least $20 if it covered all the major broadcast and cable channels' original shows).

markelliot 14y ago
The problem with comparing Hulu to cable is that with my cable subscription I'm free to record shows and play them back later - without the ads. Similarly, the on demand content rarely includes ads, and when it does they're sparse and extremely short. I often find myself starting to watch live tv shows about 20 minutes late and playing it as it records so that I can see the show the night it airs _and_ avoid ads. When Hulu will let me do this, I'll drop cable. (that said, I realize the premium I pay for these privileges and others with cable is steeper than it should be)

evoxed 14y ago

I had the same exact reaction. A whole hour of "what the hell? Do they not activate accounts on weekends or something?" Going back and forth between my laptop and the PS3 I finally found and read the FAQ one more time without skimming when I saw them pointing it out. I've gotten used to it now, although I wish they were a little more sympathetic– the connection occasionally craps out causing everything to freeze up, the only way to get back being either to stop and restart or turn the whole thing off. It would be nice if it could remember that I just saw two ads, for the third time in a row (and for some reason, the issues are only with hulu). Feature request: localized ads! I hate the US ads, but don't really trust Hulu JP content– I'd rather just watch the Japanese ads if they're the same as what's on tv. They're somehow less presumptuous, easier to ignore, or better-feeling when they're good (BOSS).