Time Warner Wants to Gut Hulu?

Funny, because I just got finished typing up something in regards to this in another thread.


Yeah, these companies are still maintaining a stranglehold on the old ways instead of progressing with the new tech. The monopoly is breaking, and they are frightened. Meanwhile it's we the consumers who still get shafted.

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If it pushes me back to heavy Kodi usage, I would no longer feel bad. At least for TW content.

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I don't feel bad in the least bit. The only ones KODI hurts are the ones who have been ramming us the last 30 years. I pay for Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu (though I don't like Hulu), and I will continue to do such. They are solid companies that are not screwing us over (yet)

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Damn this is the worst news ive heard in a while. Kind of ruined my day.

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If they do that hulu will see a huge decline in subscriptions. Including mine. You don't add a commercial free option and then gut what makes your service worth owning.

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When are these companies gonna learn to adapt instead of getting in the way of progress?

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While I agree with you in principle, it's a business and Time Warner is not in the business of giving shite away for free. People will want to watch their shows and movies whether they are on Hulu for free or not, so why not cut that off if they can and make more money.

It's an unending cycle between companies and the internet streaming where people try to find/get the content for cheap/free, and then that gets shut down, only for another one to pop up later down the road. And the problem for production companies like this as opposed to, say, the music business, is that people are always gonna want to watch things for free and then that's it. With music, I feel like it's more plausible that someone could hear something for free and get turned onto an artist or genre, where they will eventually buy songs, buy albums, go to concerts, etc. So the industry still gets its share at some point. With shows and movies, however, once you've watched it, that's it; it's over. You just move onto the next one and want it for free too. Sure, there may be outlying cases where you could catch a current show and watch it for free, then eventually tune in once it airs live again, but I'd bet those pale in comparison to people watching older shows and things like that...and with movies it will almost universally be a "one and done" kinda thing (once you watch it, there isn't usually a desire to have to see it again).

I agree that there has to be a happy medium somewhere, and I'm not exactly sure where that is. So while the production companies definitely do need to learn to adapt and develop new business models (or at least tweak the old ones), I can't blame them for wanting to shut shite like this down.

The government did make some Hulu specific rules when Comcast bought into them via the NBC acquisition:

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The companies have clashed repeatedly over Hulu for years; meanwhile, the third owner, NBCUniversal, has been a silent partner since being acquired by Comcast in early 2011. (At that time the government barred Comcast from being involved in Hulu’s business affairs, for fear that it would try to impose restrictions on Hulu to protect its core cable business.)

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LINK

Hopefully they'd step in again and either stop the acquisition or impose the same rules where they have to be a silent partner. I guess the question is how loud are 2 silent partners that want the same thing and may own a majority of the shares?

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While I agree with you in principle, it's a business and Time Warner is not in the business of giving shite away for free. People will want to watch their shows and movies whether they are on Hulu for free or not, so why not cut that off if they can and make more money.

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Because it's these kinds of tactics that continuously push people away. And it makes me have absolutely no sympathy for finding creative solutions.

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It's an unending cycle between companies and the internet streaming where people try to find/get the content for cheap/free, and then that gets shut down, only for another one to pop up later down the road. And the problem for production companies like this as opposed to, say, the music business, is that people are always gonna want to watch things for free and then that's it. With music, I feel like it's more plausible that someone could hear something for free and get turned onto an artist or genre, where they will eventually buy songs, buy albums, go to concerts, etc. So the industry still gets its share at some point. With shows and movies, however, once you've watched it, that's it; it's over. You just move onto the next one and want it for free too. Sure, there may be outlying cases where you could catch a current show and watch it for free, then eventually tune in once it airs live again, but I'd bet those pale in comparison to people watching older shows and things like that...and with movies it will almost universally be a "one and done" kinda thing (once you watch it, there isn't usually a desire to have to see it again).

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But Hulu is perfectly legal, supported and I pay for it I understand their lack of choice in the matter is an issue, but I don't have cable, I am paying them for their service.

FWIW, I would 1) Pay more if needed 2) Be ok with more tiers and more commercials. I understand that marketing pays for services, it's ok. I honestly don't get the backlash.

But I like the ability to watch shows when I want, in the order that I want, in an efficient place like an app. I can't stand DVR's.

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I agree that there has to be a happy medium somewhere, and I'm not exactly sure where that is. So while the production companies definitely do need to learn to adapt and develop new business models (or at least tweak the old ones), I can't blame them for wanting to shut shite like this down.

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Well the best reality is 3-4 of the best services out there offering everything. Just like some cities have the choice between Comcast and TW, it would be nice if there was more parity between Amazon, Hulu and Netflix. But there isn't so I have all three. I'd triple or quadruple payments to one if it created more of a standard.

I also really like Amazon's incorporation of "Channeled" content. Showtime, Shudder, etc. That's the smart way to do it.

Hulu was the most recent content.
Netflix has the best apps and originals
Amazon has the best ideas

Ugh.

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While I agree with you in principle, it's a business and Time Warner is not in the business of giving shite away for free

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Free? The frick? I pay Hulu

Isn't Hulu currently owned by Fox and NBC?

Eta: Forgot about Disney/ABC.