So Hulu's going to start charging…
Sorry, wha? Just read this on Gizmodo. It's a quote from NewsCorp's Deputy Chairman.
It's time to start getting paid for broadcast content online. I think a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of our content. I think what we need to do is deliver that content to consumers in a way where they will appreciate the value. Hulu concurs with that, it needs to evolve to have a meaningful subscription model as part of its business.
Why does "capturing value" need to be synonymous with capturing dollars for these guys? Didn't I just read that they have the fastest growing ad revenue in recent years? That same article also mentions that they might double the number of ads during shows.
What made the Hulu model different and great was the baked-in advertisements. You can watch any of their shows with brief commercial breaks in relatively high quality. Free. Streaming. Now switch to the iTunes pay-per-download model. What sets Hulu apart in that world? Their content? Their distribution?
NewsCorp, this is for you:
