Everything we do is with an eye toward achieving our long-term goal of maximizing the content you can access as conveniently as possible in a way that 'works' for the content owner. In the short-term that may require us to make some tough decisions...

After quietly blocking access through PS3′s internet browser just two weeks ago, users who queried the situtation, surprisingly recieved a “content-less” apology through email. The Hulu representative said that blocking streaming was in the best interest of the PS3 users and Hulu. Reports have suggested it could be as a result of pressure from their content providers.

Despite Hulu is only available to viewers from the US, as reported before, the VoD service is finally going to arrive in the UK in the next couple of months and no doubt the mainstream platform will be the PS3.

However, users who queried what was happening with PS3 streaming, recieved a modest apology from a Hulu representative hinting that if they carry on with giving PS3 users the VoD service online, this could dentin their relationship with another company, which in this current economic climate would not be too clever. The full “apology”  can be seen below thanks to Gizimodo,

Thanks for writing. In order to answer your question, some context might be
helpful.

For decades, the TV/movie industry has built its business model on a windowing
strategy. Content rights are granted for limited time periods across specific
distribution channels. For example, a movie starts in theaters, then moves to
pay-per-view and DVD, then to pay-cable channels, later to broadcast, and so on
down the line. Similarly, TV shows are available on TV first, then in repeats,
then to DVD and possibly syndication, etc.

Distribution availability across platforms — theaters vs. TV vs. recorded media
like DVDs vs. online streaming vs. mobile phones — was always implicitly or
explicitly controlled in that world. But a few factors have made the barriers
between those platforms more permeable: the rise of the web, increased broadband
availability, the ease of digitizing video, and the increase in the computing
power of devices like gaming consoles, set-top boxes, and mobile phones.

However, in the near-term, the windowing strategy is still dominant in the
business. Billions of dollars flow in across these different windows, and entire
companies are organized around them. Nothing productive comes from flouting that
reality (except to law firms who work on the occasional lawsuit).

It’s the Content Providers!

Thus, from all the information Hulu have provided us with, we can conclude that it is not Hulu that have the issue with PS3 users watching Hulu, instead it is the content providers. They are wary of the prinicpal of streaming online on a gaming console which is actually linked up with television. Reports have already suggested it could be something to do with licensing agreements with other video companies. However, there is no need to be disheartened since this is only a slight change of course to the overall goal of a smooth, VoD service. All the problem seems to be is with the digital streaming rights which is sure to be sorted out in the coming weeks.

“We do, however, expect these windows to converge over time. There’s no way around that, and we’re working hard with all of our partners to guide and participate in this important transition in the business.

“Everything we do is with an eye toward achieving our long-term goal of maximizing the content you can access as conveniently as possible in a way that “works” for the content owner. In the short-term that may require us to make some tough decisions, but we only do so when we believe it improves our long-term prospects to build a more enduring, legal solution to that same problem.”

Do you think Hulu will ever come to the UK? Are Hulu just blaming all their problems on content providers? Please feel free to comment below.

Hulu, the American VoD site, notorious for teasing non-US internet users with its great repertoire of content, may be launched in the UK. This rumour comes, after the service bought a whole load of British content from the Digital Rights Group and also struck a deal with Endemol the UK broadcasting company.

However this rumour does seem a bit of a stretch- adding UK content need not necessarily be linked to a UK launch. Speaking to the Financial Times, Andy Forssell, Hulu’s senior vice president of content acquisition and distribution said, we’re having discussions in the top six to eight markets…we’re laying the groundwork.” This is hardly a confirmation of an imminent UK launch.

That being said, Hulu have maintained that they are interested in going global. The company has attracted some heavyweight shareholders like FOX, and more recently, Disney. If they want to rake in the revenue, going global is definitely the way.

All we can say is- Please Hulu!! Come over to the UK!

New video integration will support Wi-Fi and 3G giving more reason to become an iPhone or iTouch user.

Online streaming video service which offers a wide range of shows and movies, Hulu, are in the course of producing a new exciting app for the iPhone,  and will be with us in just a couple of months.

This is possibly the best time to release the app as it is near when the iPhone will update its software to 3.0 meaning a lot of changes, including this one, will be on its way. The one problem Hulu face is sloting in some advertising, which frankly, is a chance they must take in order to advance in the technologic world.

Why on earth would Apple abide by this?

What many people will be thinking when reading this is, why would Itunes ever approve of it? From where I stand, there are two views that can be undertaken, one of which is this is extremely bad for Apple Itunes where users purchase lots of videos + music for anytime use, if this goes forward Itunes video store could go bust, potentially as well as all the advertising Hulu can put in giving them even more benefit, using a lot of Itunes bandwidth.

The other way to look at it, on Itunes side, is that if this news is spreading fast, it will mean people will be increasingly obliged to go out to the shops or online, and go on buy an iTouch or iPhone purely because the Hulu video app is simply a too good of a chance to let by.

To be really honest, watching videos on the iPhone through an app has not taken a big hollywood hit just yet. However, there are a couple of services out there like CBS’s TV.com though a lot of people have said this buffers most of the time, making the experience miserable. When Hulu comes along in a few months, it will be a fresh new exciting app that everyone will like straight, similar to what Facebook was. This is partly because Hulu are one of the best streaming services out there now giving free services and a great online quality. Others are trying to copy what they have done, but we all know, there is nothing better than the original!

According to ComScore, only 3% watch video on their phones showing everyone there is space on the market for this particular idea, that will take off with a boom.

Personally, I cannot wait til this app is among us, it is just what the tech market needs, a fresh new idea which it has been lacking for some time now but hopefully with the best streaming service in my eyes coming to the iPhone, the Iphone will be the best phone and the phone to have!