Oh, say it isn’t so! Based on hints given by Jonathon Miller, the newly appointed chief digital officer of News Corp., Hulu may not remain the place to go for free video on the ‘net, because it will be coming with a price tag attached to it.
Miller used to run AOL, and hasn’t even gotten to a Hulu board meeting yet (that will happen Monday). But, that isn’t stopping him from speculating on the direction that he sees Hulu going. According to statements he made at an Internet Week event sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter, he can see a future which includes at least some of the movies and TV shows on Hulu only being made available to subscribers. “In my opinion the answer could be yes. I don’t see why over time that shouldn’t happen. I don’t think it’s on the agenda for Monday [but] it seems to me that over time that could be a logical thing.”
Hulu is co-owned by some biggies in the entertainment business, News Corp., NBC Universal, and Disney. I have a funny feeling if it does come to pass that certain programming is only available to paid subscribers, it’s not gonna be the 30 minute nature show about the mating habits of cockroaches. No, it’s gonna be those with the big draw.
Now, should we really worry about what some guy is spouting who hasn’t even sat in at a board meeting yet? Ummmm…yes, when it’s this guy anyway. What he thinks is gonna count. Miller is the guy put in charge of figuring out how News Corp properties leverage their offline content to make money, online. Coming up with ideas like this is why they pay him the big bucks.
Now, maybe since he keeps making sure to back everything with the fact that it is only “in my opinion”, it isn’t all set in stone. But, they brought him aboard for a reason, and I don’t think it was to serve the rest of the board members coffee.
I really hope they don’t go ruining a good thing with doing a “Now you have to pay to watch”. We are already willing to watch their ads…doing this will just make a lot of people jump ship. Either to alternate legal routes, or some….well…less than.
Unless you are going to offer something you don’t already have for the price, and the rest stays the same…don’t do it Hulu.
Via [dailyfinance]
Pay to drop the commercials or free with commercials. I hope is the plan, other wize, nice knowing you hulu.
well now a days nothing is free if there is they are hard to find. that is why it is no surprise that they are going this path. still, it is up to the viewers if they want to pay for that service if hulu will push through with it.