Hulu ending it's free service and going Subscriber only

[A Platypus Rave]

variety.com/2016/digital/news/hulu-free-streaming-end-yahoo-1201832578/

Hulu will no longer have the Subscriber and free versions and be moving to a subscriber only model. But they have a distribution deal with Yahoo View... from the article.

Hulu has expanded its distribution deal with Yahoo, which is launching Yahoo View, a new ad-supported TV-streaming site with the five most recent episodes of shows from ABC, NBC and Fox — eight days after original air date — as well as other network shows, day-after clips, and full seasons of anime and Korean drama series.

I don't use Hulu so I don't know how different that sounds than what they do now.

[Malibu Albino]

Well, looks like I'm gonna have to continue not watching things on Hulu now.

[wisdomwizard]

Never saw the big deal in Hulu. Netflix is going to crush them.

[GuyOfOwnage]

Aug 8, 2016 23:17:51 GMT -5 wisdomwizard said:

Never saw the big deal in Hulu. Netflix is going to crush them.

The only thing they really have going for them is access to shows the day after they air. Otherwise, Netflix completely murders them in content alone.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Ehhh, it seemed like anything remotely worth watching at all was already behind the HuluPlus paywall to begin with.

[Deleted]

The content has really taken a nose dive for me. I think more and more about dropping the service to be honest as it has some stuff I like to watch, but not really enough to warrant the service.

[ICBM]

Hmm....no loss for me. I've probably clicked on hulu three times ever. This is more of a domino falling in the battle between tv and streaming media. I don't know that they are strong enough with content and user stats to compete straight up with HBO go, netflicks etc. If netflicks wished, they could drive them into a quick burst of spending and if hulu wasn't bailed out by yahoo, netflicks could end up buying them out.

[Deleted]

You know, I'm surprised Hulu hasn't dropped its free stuff sooner. It seemed like after they started, most of what people wanted to catch up on was put in the pay wall and all you were able to see were shows that nobody would want to pay money to see (bad anime, shows that were cancelled midseason, and things that had multiple 3 minute ad interruptions).

Well, doesn't bother me now. I don't have to wander to Hulu anymore for anything.

[wildojinx]

I hope Crackle stays free at least.

[Powerline]

Eh, it was nice when NXT wasn't behind the paywall (in fact, I think NXT was one of the first "paywall" shows the service ever had....I remember there being VERY few shows, as in maybe 10, that were "Hulu Plus only" when NXT went that route). But ever since, they only put the lame stuff up for free. Not to mention, watching ANYTHING (even the free stuff) on anything other than a computer required a Plus account.

I still have used the service more than Netflix due to the show selection (a bunch of my friends that tell me to get it then give me a list of bad movies to watch ironically), but I know I'm in the minority on that. And the ad breaks aren't really that bad compared to network TV, but if you're coming from the ad-free Netflix experience or are a major bingewatcher and can't stand the same ads, I can see the issue (it stuns me they've never gotten to running a larger variety of ads or maybe even found a way to do local ads...they already trace location, considering Fox shows on Hulu run a logo for my local Fox affiliate in the corner). I also think it's got a better anime selection than Netflix, although if that's what you're after Crunchyroll is so far ahead of both services.

[The Kevstaaa]

I already have Hulu+ because it beats overpaying for cable. I can see my shows the day after they air, save for Walking Dead or premium channel shows.

[Shai]

Aug 9, 2016 16:01:47 GMT -5 The Kevstaaa said:

I already have Hulu+ because it beats overpaying for cable. I can see my shows the day after they air, save for Walking Dead or premium channel shows.

I don't have cable anymore anything not on Hulu+ my mother lets me use her Verizon account to watch. It's saved me 1000s a year.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

I've already had a subscription so this doesn't affect me at all.

[xCompackx]

I lost interest in Hulu the moment their deal with CW ended so this news doesn't bother me at all.

[sfvega]

I have Hulu, but I'm probably going to get Vue this month and dump Hulu. It's convenient enough to watch Raw or Gotham or @midnight, but their content and ads for the price seems like it's probably not worth it to most people. CBS isn't on there because they have their own "service", it takes a while for some stuff from CC or FX (like season 2 of Fargo, Review, etc), Mr. Robot on USA isn't on there at all. It's serviceable at best. Their next day content is only so/so, their original content looks SOOOO bad, and their movie selection is really poor. There's a niche for this type of service, but they leave quite a bit to be desired.