UPDATED 9:51 AM -- A Microsoft spokesperson just passed this along: "We don't comment on rumor or speculation."
Original story follows:
The pre-E3 rumor train keeps chugging along, and today’s stop brings with it news that Microsoft plans to announce Hulu support for the Xbox 360 during E3 2010.
A “very reliable source” told Gear Live that the currently free Internet video streaming service will be integrated into the 360 the same way Netflix currently is. And similar to Netflix, Hulu will require a subscription fee to access it. However, like pretty much every other substantial detail about the service’s supposed new platform integration, it isn’t clear what the subscription model will look like.
Speculation has been circulating for a while that Hulu would cease being free sooner rather than later. Perhaps the announcement of 360 integration will serve as a double barrel approach to introduce the new subscription plans people have been expecting for some time now. E3 is only two weeks away, so definitive answers aren’t far off. I've reached out to Microsoft for comment, but I have a feeling we're going to have to wait until E3 to find out the whole story.
Chance of this rumor being true: 84.91 percent
Would you pay for Hulu if it were available on your 360? How many people purchased Netflix subscriptions after it was integrated into the 360?
Source: Gear Live
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tentaro
It's not Hulu.....NBC has a controlling stake in Hulu and now that Comca$t has bought them...Hulu's downfall will begin. Comca$t has been looking for a long time on how to make Hulu a subscription based site and now they own NBC, they can almost whatever they like. I hate Comca$t and it really upsets me that they were allowed to buy NBC but they were. They are getting to the point where they are almost as bad as Micro$oft and soon will be. They are looking for anyway to make money and it is certain that they will make all of Hulu a subscription based site. All I can do is hope that someone else will come along and take Hulu's place when that happens. Oh and back to the main point speaking of making money.......wouldn't surprise me a bit if M$ charged for the service, since they charge for almost everything else they have on Live lol
weejifiend
The problem is that Hulu gave their service away for free in the first place. It was a novel idea, get people hooked, and then switch to the paid model, but the sense of entitlement people suffer from is astounding.
If you think about it, paying a company $5 a month (or whatever nominal fee it will be) to basically DVR the 4-5 newest episodes of almost every TV show you watch and not have to worry about your DVR missing it, and watching it whenever you want, is very inexpensive. Compare that to Cable HD DVR service at around $90, and its easily more palatable. I'm not sure where the sense of entitlement comes from. The HD network broadcast channels come to you for free, over an antenna, with 4-5 ads per commercial break, and no free DVR. That's all. Hulu is doing you a favor by making the last few episodes of nearly every show available to you. Why do you require it to be free?
Dasadorah
Yeah I would pay for it if they change it up a bit. Make it worth paying or I should go back to streaming for free. Make it easy to locate your favorite shows. The shows are up for view as soon as they come on air. Almost like viewing cable in a way but you get go back, pause like a dvd.
But with Abc making changes their site. It looks like they are going to start charging to watch there channel on there site. It use to be free and the put they show up a day after air which was real nice.
Having Netflix and streaming free shows I have cut my cable cord a month ago.
clorin12
Heres something else for the rumor mill. Not only will Hulu be a subscription based service. They will also be showing more than 12 30second comericials in an half an hour show. So there you go G4 check out that rumor.
Scottyb09
I would only consider doing this if I had access to at least one prior season's worth of material. For example, I never checked out "Modern Family" and want to to do so. Both Hulu and ABC.com only offer about six or so episodes and I want to start from the beginning. If this is simply no different than what's available from my laptop = no deal.
EKG
Im not giving anything on Xbox Live another dime. I thought the entire reason I was paying a subscription fee was for the right to use this stuff. Apparently though, I am only paying this fee for the right to pay more fees.
Luna_Saisho
Very honestly, I've been using PlayOn since it was brand spankin' new, so I've been watching Hulu on my 360 and PS3 for years now. ^_^ They'd have to have a very cheap subscription and many extra features to make this worth it for me.
To those who say you have TV service already, and who would do it? If it's free, it's so worth it because if you miss a show, you can watch it on Hulu. Your dual tuner DVR is recording two things? Watch something else on Hulu. And don't forget, if the picture and quality is good enough, then it might be worth paying, because you could drop cable TV, so long as you can deal with watching a show the day after it airs on TV, you could have a good alternative to cable TV.
Prince313
Did you guys read the whole article? It said that HULU will start to charge for service soon. Which means, you won't be getting it for free on your laptops or computers in the coming months. For me this is something that I am looking forward to. Cable TV is getting out of control with their prices and SAT is getting on my nerves also dealing with the weatther.
thISmurderous
how 'bout making it free?
starclassics
something about this doesn't smell right.
blindsideofthesun
As the guy on top said, it would have to be commercial free. Oh, and going off of what Severnik said, there would have to be some kind of change to the availability of shows. Instead of just streaming the last 5 trailing episodes, open up access to more.
For that kind of paid service? At the quality that my Netflix shows up? I'd pay a buck or two a month. So somewhere between $15-20 a year.
tsglass
Didnt Netflix kill MS Movie Sales?
Wont Hulu hurt MS TV series Sales?
Does it even make sense to have a Video Marketplace anymore?
Blue_Vortex
As long as it's not a pay for service it'll be great, since we all know it's going to be exclusive to only gold members.
Blue_Vortex
Hulu would be a great add to the 360, I wouldn't have to worry about missing basic cable shows anymore. Though I hope that they don't charge for it since I already see it being exclusive to gold members only.
And if that happens I can only hope there's going to be a hulu app for the zune hd, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.
theantigzus
im with evil shenannigans, i have my laptop hooked up to my tv with a hdmi cable and use a plam size keyboard with integrated mouse pad so it doesnt really matter
Penetrator72
Basically what this means for those of us who already pay for Cable or Satellite service is we will now have the option to pay for the same programs twice. Thanks, but no thanks If Hulu can get a hold of news channels feeds and broadcast "LIVE" news then I'd consider this being a very very strong alternative to overpriced cable. Until then, I'll stick to either watching tv shows when they air or watching older tv shows via my Xbox through Netflix for $8.99 a month.
InHumanMarine
NO MORE EXCESSIVE FEES!!! Seems like everyone is trying to follow M$' model of overcharging. If ads are still popping up on the Xbox live dashboard, especially when it's a paid service, you know that they will still appear on services like Hulu. Other than my Netflix, there is nothing out there that merits any more of my hard earned money.
DBJAY
Actually no, Hulu does not make enough money off the advertising model. That is exactly why it will move into becoming a pay service. Netflix charges almost 10 bucks per month, or 2.50 a week, to offer their streaming services. That is not expensive by any stretch of the imagination. If Hulu offered a similar price, that would essentially replace Cable tv for many people, and those bills are usually much, much higher than 10 dollars a month.
Yippy_ki_Ya_Muda_Fuka
I believe this is a 100% true for the simple fact Hulu has been talking about an iPhone OS app for over a year now & they always talk about bringing some sort of subcription service with it. This is a way for them to test the waters of a Paid subscription on platform devices while transforming the website to a hub for both Free & Paid content. I only watch Hulu when I am seriously bored & don't feel like doing anything at all, even then it sucks because a lot of their programs aren't that great besides a few TV shows none that I really care for because I would just DVR them if I did. I believe they are setting themselves up to fail, I don't believe they will deliver better content for a paid subscription. They'd have to bring the content that Zune on XBL has to offer that Netflix can't stream otherwise $10 a month to Netflix will always be a better investment then Hulu. However If Hulu did offer content comparable to the Zune Store at an all you can price around $10 it would make it better then Netflix but the Relationship with Microsoft wouldn't last because it would cut into Microsofts profit from Zune on XBL. Same Goes for iPhone there is no way Apple gonna allow a services that offeres new release titles on there platform under cutting them in sales of the titles from iTunes. The medicore content they will offer mix with paid subscription will slowly nail Hulu's coffin shut
Spoonfish
It's only a matter of time until another site takes its place or Hulu realizes their mistake. The latest episodes should remain free, but the ability to watch entire seasons of shows and watch them commercial free should be premium.
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