Hulu for Apple iPad likely to be a pay-only service - report
While content providers intend to bring Hulu to the iPad, the TV streaming service would likely be offered by subscription only on Apple's new hardware, according to a new report.
Citing people familiar with the company, which is owned by three of the largest U.S. broadcast networks, Peter Kafka of MediaMemo reported Friday that the service, which is free for Web users, will likely be pay-only for the iPad. He said the "most likely scenario" would involve some sort of subscription package.
Hulu has been rumored for months to be exploring some sort of subscription plan to help the Web site turn a profit. Sources reportedly said the company is still unsure of the approach it will take with its anticipated premium service, and those issues would need to be resolved before an iPad plan could be made official.
Among the problems for Hulu would be Adobe Flash. Last week, the media Web site was rumored to be working on an iPad-friendly version of its Web site, which would operate without Flash.
Given all of the hurdles that lie in front of the service, Kafka said it's "very unlikely" that Hulu would launch its subscription plan or have a presence on the iPad when it launches at the end of March. But he noted that Apple would "love it" if Hulu could meet that tight timeframe.
"A rumor that the service would launch alongside the iPad surfaced in the wake of Steve Jobs' New York media tour earlier this month," he wrote. "And I don't think that?s a coincidence. But I don't think that makes it so, either."
Weeks ago, Jobs was in New York meeting with numerous media outlets, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal to pitch the iPad. In addition to the Hulu-related rumors, the trip produced allegations that Jobs disparaged Flash as "old technology" doomed to failure in meetings with newspaper officials.
Citing people familiar with the company, which is owned by three of the largest U.S. broadcast networks, Peter Kafka of MediaMemo reported Friday that the service, which is free for Web users, will likely be pay-only for the iPad. He said the "most likely scenario" would involve some sort of subscription package.
Hulu has been rumored for months to be exploring some sort of subscription plan to help the Web site turn a profit. Sources reportedly said the company is still unsure of the approach it will take with its anticipated premium service, and those issues would need to be resolved before an iPad plan could be made official.
Among the problems for Hulu would be Adobe Flash. Last week, the media Web site was rumored to be working on an iPad-friendly version of its Web site, which would operate without Flash.
Given all of the hurdles that lie in front of the service, Kafka said it's "very unlikely" that Hulu would launch its subscription plan or have a presence on the iPad when it launches at the end of March. But he noted that Apple would "love it" if Hulu could meet that tight timeframe.
"A rumor that the service would launch alongside the iPad surfaced in the wake of Steve Jobs' New York media tour earlier this month," he wrote. "And I don't think that?s a coincidence. But I don't think that makes it so, either."
Weeks ago, Jobs was in New York meeting with numerous media outlets, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal to pitch the iPad. In addition to the Hulu-related rumors, the trip produced allegations that Jobs disparaged Flash as "old technology" doomed to failure in meetings with newspaper officials.
Comments
Strange, and clearly not the direction HuLu should be going, yet I do believe that this was inevitable once they entered into talks with Cupertino.[/CENTER]
Hulu for free on a laptop/desktop or pay for it on the iPad? I think I'll stick with free.
This is yet another blow to iSteve's lie that the 'Pad is the best way to experience the 'web.
I hope this happens and that they take the technology to the AppleTV as well. I've tried a couple of the downloadable hacks that are supposed to upgrade your ATV to run Flash so I could watch Hulu, but couldn't get them to work. I would pay a modest monthly fee for Hulu, $20/month?, if it means I can ditch my HD cable subscription ($50+).
Me too. I think Hulu is good enough to be worth paying for, as long as when you pay the adverts go.
[CENTER]Hmmm?
Strange, and clearly not the direction HuLu should be going, yet I do believe that this was inevitable once they entered into talks with Cupertino.[/CENTER]
FYI: Perhaps it's just me, but your "unique" formatting does make your posts stand out, but it also makes me skip over your posts entirely.
I hope this happens and that they take the technology to the AppleTV as well. I've tried a couple of the downloadable hacks that are supposed to upgrade your ATV to run Flash so I could watch Hulu, but couldn't get them to work. I would pay a modest monthly fee for Hulu, $20/month?, if it means I can ditch my HD cable subscription ($50+).
I'd say Hulu works great on the AppleTV 95% of the time. The interface sucks though IMO. I finally just restored mine back to factory settings and now I only watch Hulu on my notebook.
I agree though, Hulu on the iPad could be great. We'll see....
DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE AN IPAD TO TEST AND EVALUATE? Wow, most of us mere mortals don't, so you must be "special," indeed. Now, on the other hand, I DO have a Kindle DX . . . and that truly and undeniably IS a cheap POS (to use your crude and wanting vocabulary). Its days are certainly numbered (and rightly so). Wanna buy one CHEAP? I hear Amazon is going to give them away to their Premium members, which, actually, might be the true market value of the device: FREE.
I believe I can safely infer from your whopping "10" posts that you've come out of the sewer now primarily to trash the "Pad," which means you must be somehow affiliated with Dell, Nokia, Asus, Sony, HP, Amazon, Adobe, Gateway, Microsoft, Ballmer, Gates, Palm, RIM, Acer, Schmidt, Enderle, Dvorak, Motorola, Lenovo, or some other member of the Luddite Party. One and all, they are literally quaking (quacking?) in their boots wondering where their future profits may lie, especially in the realm of netbook trashware.
To use your venerable "patois," sucks to be you and your opinion re: the Ipad . . . especially since it's based on a complete and utter lack of knowledge and experience, i.e., the perfect confluence of fantasy and ignorance. (Actually, and the truth be known, you probably can't AFFORD both a "Pad" and a "Phone," so this issue is, factually, moot.)
Let's hear from you again in a couple of months when you can evaluate this product from FIRSTHAND experience. Otherwise, and until then, silence is truly golden.
*based upon viewing 300 shows a month for $9 a month basic DVD service.
Hulu is going to fail, because the cheapest paid content you can't beat the 3¢ a TV show*, view anytime you want, commercial free streaming from Netflix.
*based upon viewing 300 shows a month for $9 a month basic DVD service.
You really watch 10 TV shows a day?
I can't find 10 a week worth watching!
I would be willing to pay in, say, 5 years when maybe I won't need cable...but right now I'm not going to pay for cable and THEN pay for the same content on Hulu.
FYI: Perhaps it's just me, but your "unique" formatting does make your posts stand out, but it also makes me skip over your posts entirely.
Don't mean to 'pile on'...but I agree, a little distracting.
There has to be something new in their value proposition. Either that means no adverts (but how would that play with the advertisers -- feeling they were being cut out), or some sort of limited on device storage (a la the Spotify iPhone app) that will allow you to cache shows to watch when away from wifi or 3G.
You really watch 10 TV shows a day?
I can't find 10 a week worth watching!
The rest is just so bad and the interminable adverts! Ahhhhhhhh!
This is yet another blow to iSteve's lie that the 'Pad is the best way to experience the 'web.
Another bitter post from iMoron.
I’m getting so sick of these Android fan boys posting on this site…Google borrowed so many mobile ideas from Apple… and Google is NOT Wikipedia, they're a for-profit company just like MS and Apple.....Apple really needs to step up their game though…I think they need to allow Flash on the tablet, they need a big upgrade to the iPhone OS and I hope to God they won’t push Bing in a major way. I fear Apple is slipping in public perception. AT&T’s battle with Verizon hasn't helped and Google is moving very fast….As Apple showed with cut/copy/paste, sometimes it really pays to move slowly and get it right. Let's hope that iPhone4 makes some big leaps forwards
LETS GET MOVING APPLE!!