Hulu may soon require cable subscription

posted by Victor H. / May 02, 2012, 4:02 AM

Hulu is massive – the online service offering the latest TV shows and other programming has nearly 31 million users in the States, and many of them use Hulu instead of their cable subscription, some even closing their cable subscriptions to save some buck. Turns out, Hulu might have a nasty surprise for its viewers. Hulu will become available only to those that have cable or satellite service, according to the latest rumor.

The shocking news comes from the New York Post and seems to contradict the core of Hulu's business model. It's still a rumor, though, but it sounds possible. It's also not exactly clear whether this new requirement for having cable or satellite service would cover Hulu Plus subscribers paying $7.99 a month. And there are as many as 2 million paid subscribers.

Now, TechCrunch adds its own sources and clarifies that such talks have been going on since 2009, but Hulu definitely doesn't want to be the one to make the first move. Still, it'd have to comply with carriers, if they push for it. One thing is certain – the new restriction won't happen overnight, but it could happen soon. Also, with it will come a gap between the time a show airs on TV and the time it arrives on Hulu. For paid users, this should be a day of waiting, while non-paid subs might need to wait for the whopping 30 days.

Some groups like Private Knowledge have already issued statements about the new restriction saying that it would only force users to look for illegal content. Instead “creativity through balanced copyright” should be the way to go. We couldn't agree more, now what do you will be the repercussions of such a move from Hulu?

source: New York Post via TechCrunch

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22 Comments

1. Birds

Posts: 1172; Member since: Nov 21, 2011

Hulu you are trying to do the most! I mean you are doing the most!!!!!

posted on May 02, 2012, 4:05 AM 1

2. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

Bye bye Hulu Plus, it was nice while I had you!

posted on May 02, 2012, 4:57 AM 5

22. jbash

Posts: 345; Member since: Feb 07, 2011

agreed, i can easily find my media else where. If they wanna throw my money away so be it. plus the commercials on hulu are getting annoying.

posted on May 02, 2012, 6:06 PM 0

3. DigitalMD

Posts: 226; Member since: Feb 17, 2010

The writing is on the wall. The days of free media are almost over as the biggies (Google/Amazon/Apple) look for more revenue streaming from your wallet... ...Don't believe me? Take a look at all the Android flagship models now being sold WITHOUT microSD card slots. . Watch as Google and Apple march in lock step with the cable companies toward clamping down digital media rights enforcement. ..

posted on May 02, 2012, 5:39 AM 2

7. bigdawg23

Posts: 467; Member since: May 25, 2011

The loss of SD slot in Flagship Android devices has nothing to do with it. You can blame apple for that. They are making the devices with Android to have similar features of an iPhone. I have a HTC Vivid and likely many friends with 16GB on board, most don't put in a SD Card.

posted on May 02, 2012, 7:04 AM 0

4. pongkie

Posts: 663; Member since: Aug 20, 2011

if this goes through.. bye bye hulu

posted on May 02, 2012, 5:39 AM 5

5. erikiksaz

Posts: 170; Member since: Apr 22, 2010

Hah yeah. Netflix shot themselves in the foot by modifying their primary service. Hulu will follow suit.

posted on May 02, 2012, 5:45 AM 5

6. PryvateiDz

Posts: 444; Member since: Jul 31, 2011

If they do, I will be leaving too. If I wanted cable/satellite, I would have them, I don't need them to be the gap between digital tv service & streaming. I need them to be HuluPlus

posted on May 02, 2012, 6:55 AM 0

8. shadowcell

Posts: 300; Member since: Mar 28, 2012

With blotched news like this it just rattles the community to continue seeking other alternatives to viewing their favorite shows. I don't know why they keep seeing us as a threat. I mean, you invent these services yet you don't want us to use them? If you look at the statistics you would see there are still a good number of households whom still have a cable service.

posted on May 02, 2012, 7:10 AM 1

9. HGMIV

Posts: 52; Member since: Feb 15, 2012

$16.99/month for Netflix, and $7.99 /month for Hulu Plus. That's my cable service.

posted on May 02, 2012, 9:00 AM 5

11. JBz007

Posts: 63; Member since: Mar 02, 2012

Same here.

posted on May 02, 2012, 9:19 AM 2

10. dcgore

Posts: 234; Member since: Feb 24, 2012

I don't think so. Big cable operators decided to withdraw their bids for Hulu. I think we'll continue to see the current model.

posted on May 02, 2012, 9:06 AM 0

12. 14545

Posts: 1835; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

I already have a hard time paying for a service where I have sit though as many commercials as I would on live tv, but if they do this I will drop them out of principle. And I have cable, but I'm not taking time out of my day to set this up. IN ADDITION TO HAVING TO SIT THOUGH ALL THESE COMMERCIALS THAT I CAN'T FAST FORWARD THROUGH LIKE ON MY HTPC. Hulu, I hope you're listening. You may not care about losing my 8 a month, but it will be gone.

posted on May 02, 2012, 9:36 AM 2

13. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

Hulu is a catastrophic failure. Netflix is $8 a month, but with no commercials, better quality streams, and more content (Even if it is somewhat lacking).

posted on May 02, 2012, 10:31 AM 4

14. 14545

Posts: 1835; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

Exactly. Both lack content, but both are the same price. However the experience with netflix is 1000x better than Hulu for the reasons you cited above. Heck, I would be ok with netflix took over hulu and doubled their price, it would be better than dealing with the crap that hulu puts you through. Not to mention when an ad fails halfway though for whatever reason, and then you have to watch the entire segment again.

posted on May 02, 2012, 10:38 AM 3

15. jmoita2

Posts: 930; Member since: Dec 23, 2011

You stole the words right out of my brain. I tried Hulu Plus for a couple of months through my Roku,but ended up canceling due to the tons of ads and spotty video quality. Netflix quality is a bargain for the $8 it costs me. If they go through with this,it will be the end for them. it's simply too much trouble for what it is.

posted on May 02, 2012, 12:12 PM 0

17. shimmyx20

Posts: 280; Member since: Mar 03, 2009

Netflix is OK if you don't mind being a season behind on TV shows. Hulu offers next day watching of current shows. For someone who doesn't pay for cable TV, it is an essential service. Hulu + Netflix is a great combo for me, for now. Plus, if you read the source material closely, it appears that this would only affect the free Hulu users.

posted on May 02, 2012, 12:35 PM 1

19. 14545

Posts: 1835; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

But the point is that you won't get this service anymore. They would essentially being putting the final nail in their own coffins by running people like you off. Who use their service exactly for this reason.

posted on May 02, 2012, 1:08 PM 1

16. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

Im one of those that dumped cable for netflix and hulu. I havent missed cable one bit. I also use netflix more than hulu. So if this move goes through, then they just save me another 8 bux a month. Ill just hook up my laptop to my TV through the HDMI out and go stream it from different sites. Not a big deal. I dont watch enough TV to care.

posted on May 02, 2012, 12:24 PM 1

18. smallcolabear

Posts: 82; Member since: Feb 18, 2012

This sucks here in wyoming if you ahve dish you do not get local channels such as CW or ABC so the shows taht I use hulu to keep up on i might as well wait for netflix to get the season so I can watch it then, or switch satelite/cable providers this is a bad move I feel.