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Hulu puts itself up for sale

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Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#21

Post by samirg »

spydertennis wrote: post #16
jsherry wrote: post #11

Same theme over and over and it's frustrating: technology is fully ready to support streaming and on demand programming, but the content providers don't like licensing the content because it cannibalizes their TV product. And who can blame them really? They're the only show in town and they should cash in via whatever method best suits them. The only real chance for things like Hulu and Netflix to succeed no-holds-ba…

One thought I had was that Hulu/Netflix should buy the rights to cancelled shows that have popular followings and pay to have new seasons made. Obviously this is fraught with potential problems (people are committed to other projects) but it could be cool.

The other obvious issue is that if the show was cancelled by the studio, what makes you think it would be profitable to pay for and produce new shows for distribution across a smaller network (Netflix vs. sum of cable/satellite distribution, which is the case for most major studios)? I suspect FNL/DirecTV may be a counter-argument here, although I don't know the specific economics of that agreement.

Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#22

Post by ssharp »

spydertennis wrote: post #16
jsherry wrote: post #11

Same theme over and over and it's frustrating: technology is fully ready to support streaming and on demand programming, but the content providers don't like licensing the content because it cannibalizes their TV product. And who can blame them really? They're the only show in town and they should cash in via whatever method best suits them. The only real chance for things like Hulu and Netflix to succeed no-holds-ba…

One thought I had was that Hulu/Netflix should buy the rights to cancelled shows that have popular followings and pay to have new seasons made. Obviously this is fraught with potential problems (people are committed to other projects) but it could be cool.

You'd have to pick up shows where the fan base was extremely passionate but the show just couldn't find a mass audience. Those types of shows don't come around that often.

With all the cable companies now interested in scripted television, the ability for good shows to make it to a home that will support it through growth is much higher.

Besides the inventory issue, I see huge issues with Hulu and Netflix getting into the production business. Their core business is distribution, not programming and production.

Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#23

Post by benmccann »

aninteger wrote: post #12
joeguilmette wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i love Hulu and really dont like Netflix... if Hulu dies I'm going to be firing up Utorrent for the first time in a long time.

Why exactly do you like Hulu? It seems they offer the same content that exists if you go directly to TV channel websites (abc.com, nbc.com, cbs.com, etc). I never found anything on their site that didn't exist on the network's own sites. Yes, Hulu Plus has older seasons for certain shows but so does Netflix. If, and only if, they start streaming Mad Men or Breaking Bad then I'm in!

I prefer Hulu over Netflix because it works on the Linux machine I have hooked up to my TV.

Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#24

Post by sukuriant »

ssharp wrote: post #22
spydertennis wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thought I had was that Hulu/Netflix should buy the rights to cancelled shows that have popular followings and pay to have new seasons made. Obviously this is fraught with potential problems (people are committed to other projects) but it could be cool.

You'd have to pick up shows where the fan base was extremely passionate but the show just couldn't find a mass audience. Those types of shows don't come around that often. With all the cable companies now interested in scripted television, the ability for good shows to make it to a home that will support it through growth is much higher. Besides the inventory issue, I see huge issues with Hulu and Netflix getting int…

Stargate.

Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#25

Post by bennesvig »

aninteger wrote: post #12
joeguilmette wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i love Hulu and really dont like Netflix... if Hulu dies I'm going to be firing up Utorrent for the first time in a long time.

Why exactly do you like Hulu? It seems they offer the same content that exists if you go directly to TV channel websites (abc.com, nbc.com, cbs.com, etc). I never found anything on their site that didn't exist on the network's own sites. Yes, Hulu Plus has older seasons for certain shows but so does Netflix. If, and only if, they start streaming Mad Men or Breaking Bad then I'm in!

I like Hulu Plus for the newer shows and I can watch it on my TV with a Roku.

Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#26

Post by jeffool »

sukuriant wrote: post #24
ssharp wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd have to pick up shows where the fan base was extremely passionate but the show just couldn't find a mass audience. Those types of shows don't come around that often. With all the cable companies now interested in scripted television, the ability for good shows to make it to a home that will support it through growth is much higher. Besides the inventory issue, I see huge issues with Hulu and Netflix getting int…

Stargate.

And shows like Arrested Development, Firefly, and Jericho. Maybe not those shows in particular given the amount of time that's passed, but, the next time it happens.

Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#27

Post by sp332 »

aninteger wrote: post #12
joeguilmette wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i love Hulu and really dont like Netflix... if Hulu dies I'm going to be firing up Utorrent for the first time in a long time.

Why exactly do you like Hulu? It seems they offer the same content that exists if you go directly to TV channel websites (abc.com, nbc.com, cbs.com, etc). I never found anything on their site that didn't exist on the network's own sites. Yes, Hulu Plus has older seasons for certain shows but so does Netflix. If, and only if, they start streaming Mad Men or Breaking Bad then I'm in!

For starters, the Criterion Collection is on Hulu. They moved from Netflix because Netflix doesn't support "extra features" from DVDs. (The Criterion Collection basically invented DVD extras, so it's a big deal to them.)

Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#28

Post by kloncks »

joeguilmette wrote: post #7
c2 wrote: post #2

Really throws the future of Hulu in doubt. If the big three media companies are no longer part owners, and they already see Hulu as undermining and upsetting their traditional partners, what incentive do they have to continue providing free content? If anything at this point Hulu will be a talent acquisition.

i love Hulu and really dont like Netflix... if Hulu dies I'm going to be firing up Utorrent for the first time in a long time.

I have both Hulu Plus and Netflix. Love them both but they're different offerings.

Hulu is primarily for television especially current ones; Netflix is for movies.

Re: Hulu puts itself up for sale

#30

Post by kenjackson »

Hulu should hire me as their CEO. Here's what I'd do:

1) Secure medium term content deals with all current partners. I'd like five years, but I'll make do with three years.

2) Start building my own high quality content. Try to grab someone like Sue Naegle or Carolyn Strauss (both HBO blood) to run this.

3) Pay crazy money to get DirectTvs NFL deal to Hulu+.

With all that said, I think they've done a pretty good job w/o me. :-)

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