Hulu to offer free ad-supported viewing on iPhone, iPad this summer
Popular video streaming service Hulu, which currently requires users to subscribe to its "Plus" service to view content on their iPhone or iPad, will begin offering free viewing of select ad-supported programming on mobile devices this summer.
The company's plans were announced on its official blog on Wednesday, where it revealed that some full TV episodes will be viewable on devices like Apple's iPhone and iPad. Hulu also revealed that it will launch the next generation of its Hulu Plus application for iPhone later in the summer.
Hulu's plans for ad-supported free viewing are apparently limited to "mobile devices," which would suggest that the free streaming content will not make its way to Hulu's official Apple TV channel.
To date, Hulu's iOS applications have required a paid Hulu Plus subscription in order to view content. Some of that content has, however, been available to view for free on Hulu's website for desktop users on Mac or PC.
Hulu also announced Wednesday that its Plus subscription service, which costs $7.99 per month, has surpassed 6 million subscribers. In addition to rebroadcasting cable and network TV programs, Hulu also offers subscribers its own original content, including "Deadbeat," "Moone Boy," "The Awesomes," "Quick Draw," and the Sports Emmy-nominated series "Behind the Mask."
Hulu has more than 1,700 advertisers, and it plans to roll out new ways for companies to reach its customer base. Accordingly, three new "ad innovations" were also announced on Wednesday: in-stream purchasing, which will debut later this year with Pizza Hut as a launch partner; cross-platform interactive ads optimized for a user's current viewing device; and "Hulu 360 Ad," which will target mobile users with advertisements that go "beyond the traditional video ad."
The company's plans were announced on its official blog on Wednesday, where it revealed that some full TV episodes will be viewable on devices like Apple's iPhone and iPad. Hulu also revealed that it will launch the next generation of its Hulu Plus application for iPhone later in the summer.
Hulu's plans for ad-supported free viewing are apparently limited to "mobile devices," which would suggest that the free streaming content will not make its way to Hulu's official Apple TV channel.
To date, Hulu's iOS applications have required a paid Hulu Plus subscription in order to view content. Some of that content has, however, been available to view for free on Hulu's website for desktop users on Mac or PC.
Hulu also announced Wednesday that its Plus subscription service, which costs $7.99 per month, has surpassed 6 million subscribers. In addition to rebroadcasting cable and network TV programs, Hulu also offers subscribers its own original content, including "Deadbeat," "Moone Boy," "The Awesomes," "Quick Draw," and the Sports Emmy-nominated series "Behind the Mask."
Hulu has more than 1,700 advertisers, and it plans to roll out new ways for companies to reach its customer base. Accordingly, three new "ad innovations" were also announced on Wednesday: in-stream purchasing, which will debut later this year with Pizza Hut as a launch partner; cross-platform interactive ads optimized for a user's current viewing device; and "Hulu 360 Ad," which will target mobile users with advertisements that go "beyond the traditional video ad."
Comments
Its like Deja Vu all over again.
Hulu is going to have ads? Shocker. Heck- even paying $7.99 you still get ads!
"Select" is the key word here.
Sure is. Select shows are not the ones people want to watch.
Hulu is going to have ads? Shocker. Heck- even paying $7.99 you still get ads!
May as well get Netflix for that price.
WOW!!! Free add supported Hulu !!!! how is this different from the effen "ad" supported pay version. I quit Hulu two years ago because they were putting commercials in the middle of my programs. I guess I'll start using Hulu for free again since the "FREE" part allows me to accept the inserted ads. Thanks Hulu!
WOW!!! Free add supported Hulu !!!! how is this different from the effen "ad" supported pay version. I quit Hulu two years ago because they were putting commercials in the middle of my programs. I guess I'll start using Hulu for free again since the "FREE" part allows me to accept the inserted ads. Thanks Hulu!
For years we all PAY for cable, and yet, ads.
If you want NEW content, it costs a lot more money than old Netflix content. Someone online once estimated it would cost Netflix 400k PER EPISODE of Big Bang Theory if they wanted to put new ones on Netflix (x, whatever, 150 shows or how ever many there are), which would blow their entire budget on one series.
(that number was the amount of ad revenue per half hour on Cable television that show generated)
It's ridiculous that I have to pay a monthly fee for the privilege to watch shows on my mobile devices WITH ADS and then they have the gall to tell me some of the shows I want to watch are only available on the web.
It's insane that the free version of Hulu is only available on some OS's, while others require the paid (but still with ads!) version.
I don't know whether to blame Hulu or (more likely) the content owners (some of whom own Hulu anyway) but it's crazy.
Free Hulu should have ALL the same shows (not "select" ones) no matter what OS.
Paid Hulu should likewise have ALL the same shows (which I don't think is currently true) no matter what OS.
Making things hard for people doesn't help your business.
Wasn't Hulu like this in the beginning?
Hulu in the beginning was great.
The cool thing about Hulu ads is that you get to watch the SAME ad even 11 or 12 times during a single show, so you REALLY can study them lol.
What shows are you watching that you're seeing 11-12 commercials?
No Hulu for me until it is ad-free
Amazon Prime and Netfilx.
Hulu? Meh.
Amazon Prime and Netfilx.
Hulu? Meh.
Except for the advertising, Hulu is better than both of those due to more content. I currently use Amazon prime, cancelled Netflix because the stuff I wanted was never available.
More varied content. I watch current shows on Hulu because it allows fast forwarding whereas some VOD doesn’t plus overall it has less commercials.