Microsoft is keen on the idea of integrating practical web services into Xbox Live. Netflix instant streaming is perhaps the most useful of the trinity, as it allows us to watch season after season of TheX-Files and radical documentaries like Helvetica. And despite how stripped down they are, Twitter and Facebook do at least provide a touch point to the social web from our couches--assuming we're too lazy to find our iPhones, that is. But, what's next for Live integration? According to Live Gear's supposedly never-fail source, Hulu will be joining the dashboard after an E3 reveal.
Live Gear believes the Xbox Live version of Hulu will be integrated like Netflix and will carry some sort of subscription fee. What the sub-fee will be, though, the source apparently didn't know. To give you an idea, the tech blogs have latched onto a subscription rumor from the LA Times for Hulu proper that is rather…interesting. Apparently, at one point, the dudes behind the service were kicking around the idea of a $9.95 per-month fee for access to popular shows beyond the five most recent episodes. I guess that works.
1UP backs up this rumor, by the way, reporting that a Hulu application for the 360 does indeed exist, but apparently rights issues are causing a holdup. According to the publication's source, if Hulu is unveiled at E3, it's because things have been ironed out.
I gotta be honest: all this Hulu talk only serves to remind me that big media still needs to chill out about the Internet, and Robocop and The Crow are still not available for streaming on Netflix. This is a travesty Netflix, for real. Get top men on it. Top men.
It's even worse for the people outside of the united states that did cheat access to Hulu via proxy, as they experienced how awesome Hulu is. I'd rather have never seen it at all, and not know what I am missing. Oh well. No one to blame but myself. I should have left it alone at the first "You're not American GTFO" message.
Well at least one gaming system has some pull with Hulu....I've been waiting for PS3 to work with Hulu again for a year now? Longer? I don't know but it's been ages! I refuse to pay the retarded prices for cable TV but still want to watch basic cable shows like The Office and Castle without having to resort to online piracy. Sure *I* could watch them on my computer but my family loves the shows together so....only options on big TV are via a system using Hulu or via streaming from my computer where I have acquired the media I want to view. Subscription should be free or $10 a year though....$10 per month is retarded
Guys, don't blame hulu and netflix for insane bat ass rules about draconian copyright rules. Take the fight to the damn lawyers by vandalizing their expensive mercedes until they realize that it may be cheaper to stop fighting against progressive intellectual property rules then it is to have to buy a new car every day.
Of course, if anyone asks, I didn't say that.
also, seriously? people still watch ttv as an actual activity instead of through some ironic sense of... irony?
" Guys, don't blame hulu and netflix for insane bat ass rules about draconian copyright rules. Take the fight to the damn lawyers by vandalizing their expensive mercedes until they realize that it may be cheaper to stop fighting against progressive intellectual property rules then it is to have to buy a new car every day. Of course, if anyone asks, I didn't say that. also, seriously? people still watch ttv as an actual activity instead of through some ironic sense of... irony? "
It is Netflix's fault. It has nothing to do with copyright rules. I know because I wrote to the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission) and asked them about this very specific issue. They told me that there is nothing legally or due to copyright that prevents them from offering a service in Canada, and has everything to do with Netflix not bothering to actually obtain the distribution rights for this country. And since Netflix does not offer a way to contact them unless you are a current subscriber (which is only possible if you are in the US), a member of the media or a prospective business partner/investor, I can't ask them why not.
For people outside the US, we can only wait. There are some recent rumours that they will announce the availability of Netflix streaming in Canada by the end of this year. We'll see...
Because we are a market that is 10% the size of the US market, I guess they feel it's not worth the time and money. So fuck them.
@RHCPfan24
said:
" I would have to pay money for a free service on top of an already hefty Gold subscription? I love Hulu, but no way, Jose. "
If you have to pay for Hulu, it won't be because of the Xbox. The people at Hulu have been discussing charging for their services for a while, and if they do make that change, it won't be on one service or another, but across all platforms. If you have to pay $10 for Hulu, it will be for the PC as well (like Netflix, pay your subscription fee, have access across all available platforms).
I was really excited about this article then I got to the part where it said there'd be an additional sub fee. No thanks, I'll just keep using it for free on my computer.
Hey Canadians, if you want to watch Hulu from your computer just download a program called Hotspot Shield. It mixes up your IP address so the site can't recognize where you're from, and grants you access. I've been using it for a while now and it works great.
why...i don't see the use for this, unless hulu plans to start charging, this would take over what netflix did making netflix and the zune marketplace practically useless. Im fine typing in http://www.hulu.com to see some shows rather then walking over to my 360 and doing the same thing with less quality
EDIT: just noticed you mentioned charges...ok i'll keep using the free one then
I've always wanted hulu to be on Xbox, to fill in the holes left by Netflix, so I really hope this pans out. I've used Netflix streaming 10x to 20x more since I can watch it on TV. I'm not sure how much I'd be willing to pay for it...probably not much, since Netflix is eating pretty much my entire 'streaming things that I used to watch on my computer but can now see on my TV' budget.
SIDE NOTE: I really feel for the PR people who can't keep secrets locked down...it would be nice to have genuine big surprises at an E3 like in the days of old.
I'm in Australia so I can't use hulu...and I'd love to use Netflix but again, being in Australia, I don't have the bandwidth/download limit to stream giant video files So great, more video stuff I can't use...if only there were a way to watch video on my telly without my Xbox Nah, that's crazy talk
I would be okay with subscription fees is for viewing more than 5 episodes at a time or something similar. Just have a basic service for free with 5 episodes of a t.v. show available.
Honestly I'm "meh" about this. 1. Because I would have to turn Gold back on and honestly I don't have a reason to right now. 2. Because it'd be ANOTHER subscription when I already have a DVR to watch TV anyway. 3. I don't use HULU on my computer now so eh...
Very excited about Hulu on 360, then I can finally justify dropping cable a few years ago... Although... Live + Netflix + Hulu's Mythological subscription plan all adds up to about what Dish Network would cost.
I am pissed of the many video sites claims to be the best in the segment,but certainly not,i found many people complaining about the poor streaming rate and buffering ,recently i found hulu streaming provides great streaming even in the lower bandwidth ,which is not as good as you tube but atleast i never suffer hicupd while playing videos.
I am pissed of the many video sites claims to be the best in the segment,but certainly not,i found many people complaining about the poor streaming rate and buffering ,recently i found hulu streaming provides great streaming even in the lower bandwidth ,which is not as good as you tube but atleast i never suffer hicupd while playing videos.
For all you Australians, it has been rumored/announced that Foxtel (cable TV) is coming to XBOX Live soon. I don't know the details but it sounds very similar to this.
I'm not paying for Hulu unless they have a lot more stuff I want to see. Right now they don't and since I have Netflix, there is no reason for me to add an additional monthly expense.
I'd rather this was on the PS3 since it runs quieter and less hot than my 360.
If Sony wants their for-pay PS3 online to fly, they better have something like Hulu available to compete with Xbox.
" You Americans are a lucky bunch, the European LIVE crowd get very little and yet we pay pretty much the exact same price for Gold Membership. Would be great if Microsoft offered us a fairer package. "
Correction. We pay the exact same price, and we don't even get half the content.
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