Online tv/film site Hulu launched a year ago today, and boy did we have to eat crow.
We provided nearly constant criticism of the site since it was announced in March 2007 (no name, billion dollar valuation, name translation issues, trademark absurdity, etc.). But despite a slightly bumpy launch, we had to admit that they did an outstanding job. And today I can safely say I spend more time watching Hulu than I do my standard home cable connection.
The site continues to grow rapidly. In August they had over 100 million video streams. Last month, according to Nielsen, they streamed 142 million videos, a 42% month over month increase. 72,000 reviews and 14,000 forum posts have been left of the site, and the company says they’ve received 50,000 feedback emails.
The site now has 110 content providers (including NBC Universal, FOX, Sony Pictures Television, MGM Studios, Comedy Central, Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, PBS, FX, Sundance Channel and the Sci Fi Channel), up from 40 at launch. TV titles have increased from 90 to more than 1,000. And there are now 400 movies on Hulu – there were just 10 a year ago.
Hulu also has 30 distribution partners taking their video content, including MSN, Yahoo, AOL, MySpace, Facebook, Slide, MyYearbook, IMDb, TV.com and TVGuide.
Hulu also says they’ve been mentioned in 25,000 blog posts and 4,000 other articles, and have been tweeted 40,000 times since April.
In other words, I was wrong. Hulu rocks. Despite ridiculous odds, the company was able to pull off a joint venture between two humongous parent media companies and provide users with a compelling, sexy product. The only thing I can really criticize is the continued lack of international availability, which is a licensing issue beyond their control.
Happy birthday, Hulu. Please add HBO soon.
So much for ‘ClownCo’.
LOL! Clown Co! CLOWN CO! TV executives WERE SO FULL OF FAIL! How could they possibly NOT FUCK UP? Too much coke and hookers to distract them!!!
Huh? What? Hulu rocks? Oh shi… my bad.
you mean there’s hookers and coke somewhere? no one told me. I feel jipped.
Funny anon is funny.
Hulu is definitely better than I imagined it would be. I think they should develop some games or something more interactive to appeal to a larger audience.
ClownCo was so arrogant on Google’s part. I’m glad Hulu is doing so well. They had the trump card after all: AWESOME CONTENT.
This soliloquy should be broadcast on hulu in HD
why is it a soliloquy? he is writing a blog for mass consumption, not a personal note to himself. If you’re going to use fancy words, make sure they’re correct
More HD programming!
as my younger brother keeps saying …there is something missing in hulu..i will agree with him!
I just found out about Hulu a couple months ago. So grateful for it because I don’t have a DVR…. Yeah, I’m glad that it’s going strong
If only it was available world-wide…
Yah. Hulu used to use the tag line “anywhere anytime” which they pulled because it was not anywhere. Open worldwide access, im tired of using a proxy.
Since the US sucks so bad, why do you even want to watch the content? I’m sure the proxy has great speed, lmao.
Amen to that last sentence. Hulu, PLEASE add HBO soon…..!!
Accepting one’s mistake needs courage. Good to see that you have it.
Hulu’s achievement is that it has been able to license content from 2 huge media companies. Once you grant them this, you can also blame them for not being able to license *any* content for international users. Hulu can not shy away from this.
Hulu can’t generate enough money from advertisers internationally because the advertisers don’t really care for markets outside the US. Why waste bandwidth on poor people?
The US is only the 12th richest country in the world. If they advertised to Europe they would advertise to 10 of the 11 richest (the other is Qatar). In case that answers your question.
Nice! Completely ignorant to the truth. As Sam explained; Almost every western country is richer than the USA.
Now go back and look at advertising spend across the globe. This is what matters most to Hulu because it is from advertising thzt their revenue is derived. Hulu does not collect revenue as a percentage of wealth of a given country.
Ignorance indeed.
Sam B: Care to cite your sources? Here is a link to the International Monetary Fund’s database:
http://is.gd/56MI
Sam B is only quoting some towel head from the ass of the world…
What ‘country’ Take your pick…
Ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?
If the US is another “poor country” why is it then that these towel head assholes are desperate to come here????
Hulu kicks ass. I watch it over lunch, dinner. I even like the commercials. and please add family guy
yeah, I’ve watched more commercials on Hulu in the last year than I have on TV, by far.
Please do elaborate, Michael and Ming.
You like the ads themselves, or don’t mind watching them because they precede High-Q content?
to be honest , I can relate to that …
I’m in Belgium and therefore am obliged to go through a proxy which not always give me the best streaming quality.
Even that doesn’t hold me back from visiting the site every week to catch up on Prison Break.
The value of the content (for me) just makes up for the many (same) ads and lower q stream …
If they add HBO and Showtime I’m switching to basic cable
Redbox + Hulu FTW!
There is only one person who has made Hulu rock ! It is no other than their CEO. It was his idea for a free streaming video, instead of paid one.
Oh wow.. FREE. Who couldn’t have thought of that?
Free! omg why didnt anyone else such as YouTube, Joost and everyone else think of that, dick, go back to school, stop making useless points
Yeah ! right.Hulu is absolutely amazing.Don’t go on new business start that will run or not.In starting each & everything takes time to establishment.So just wait & watch.
Like Techno Start.
http://www.iboozi.com
nothing beats Hulu – name a better service?
forgot to say- I’m in the UK and watch through a proxy and the quality is amazing, love watching entourage…
http://www.lipobinddirect.com
still only-US. Proxy won’t do the job (too slow).
I’ve been on hulu.com since beta, and I am like you, Mike: It is where I consume almost all of my television (except football). Hell, I even watched the debate stream live on Hulu.
FX rocks! It’s Always Sunny, Sons of Anarchy, and now Testees! – I would have never seen these shows on standard TV…I don’t even know (or care) what channel FX is on my television.
watching through proxy works like a charm… hoping they add more international content as well !!
http://www.confiz.com
I dumped cable/satellite in June of 2006 thinking that paying $1.99 to watch TV shows from iTunes would help cut my TV addiction. Very few shows are worth that price IMHO.
But thanks to Hulu, abc.com, and cbs.com, I’m watching more network TV than I did before and I don’t have to worry about my TiVo’s hard drive filling up. Thank you Hulu… I guess
Btw, here is top 3 according to the IMF:
Rank Country GDP (millions of USD)
- World 54,584,918
- European Union 16,905,620
1 United States 13,807,550
2 Japan 4,381,576
3 Germany 3,320,913
Top 3 according to Wold Bank:
Rank Country GDP (millions of USD)
- World 54,347,038
- Eurozone 12,179,250
1 United States 13,807,550
2 Japan 4,376,705
3 Germany 3,297,233
Top 3 according to CIA World Fact Book:
Rank Country GDP (millions of USD)
- World 54,620,000
- European Union 16,620,000
1 United States 13,840,000
2 Japan 4,384,000
3 Germany 3,322,000
This is the death of the “traditional” model for movies both independent and studio.
Why? Because once digitized, the movies, just like digital music, will escape the ability of Big Studios to make money from the viewing of the movie itself.
In the same manner that Big Labels lost the battle with digital music, Big Studios will lose the battle with feature and independent movies.
I call it the “15 foot problem”. (1) Once folks are able to use their TV to watch digital content, the same way they listen to digital content with their music, and (2) the movies are digitized, it is OVER for Big Studio and Independent alike
Don’t misunderstand. It isn’t Hulu in and of itself.
It is the ability to conveniently, and at no cost to the viewer, obtain and view digital movies. The exact same process that destroyed Big Music Labels will destroy Big Studio.
Hulu did well.
best 1970 jonny sokko giant robot collection i could find. my son has now had a crash course about jonny sokko and his giant robot. best video box embed i could find. the name hulu still hurts but the product speaks for itself.
VideosLocator.com
i fell sorry for your son. what did u call him sonlocator.com?
Hulu has a shocking amount of really bad old tv shows-which is great for people like me who like really bad old tv shows. Of course, I find it one bit of info overload-who has time to watch all this stuff? But it is nice to have it there if the mood does strike.
Yeah, currently watching Cleopatra 2525
Worst. Episode. Ever.
(That’s right – ALL OF THEM.)
hulu sux. they don’t have any hbo shows or the hills
@Kelly: Let me correct you: Hulu sucks “for you”. Don’t state it as a fact, because others (like myself) do appreciate Hulu. So state it as you own opinion.
I’ve watched a couple movies, a couple shows, I don’t mind the commercials at all because they go solo, come and go in tv-like time and I really don’t mind them for what Hulu offers… But the way, I’m in Canada, I use a proxy, and the speed is fine, so it might simply be a matter of time of day, place on earth, etc…
On a personnal note: I believe everything on the internet should be available to everyone. IMO, the internet shouldnt know any territories, any borders, any frontiers… Hell, if astornauts on a shuttle have a couple hours of breaktime, why couldn’t they watch some Hulu program? Space around Earth doesn’t belong to a country, it belongs to Earth… The internet should be like space. If I’m american and go a business trip in Australia, I don’t understand why I couldn’t have the possibility to watch my favorites shows from the internet using services like Hulu… That’s one of many things the internet is for. Advertisers should stop being so egostestical… the internet is and will forever be global.
@ Dave. Um, Cavenger is a better service. Hulu has old shows nobody under 30 wants to watch. At least Cavenger has a range of stuff
It’s when you write articles like this Michael that I remember why it’s worth getting peed off reading you other days =P
At least your strong opinions are countered by equally strong concessions…
It’s also my birthday today
Although I am slightly older than Hulu
@Alex, you said:
—–
Hulu can’t generate enough money from advertisers internationally because the advertisers don’t really care for markets outside the US. Why waste bandwidth on poor people?
—–
You’re an ignorant moron. Let me guess, you live in Iowa, have never been outside the US and speak only english, right?
People like you are the reason why many europeans think americans are dumb, ignorant and uneducated. (Yes, _I_ know this isn’t true).
No to all of the above. In fact I was even born outside the US. I speak german, I have 4 years of latin, and can understand spanish pretty well (speak? not so much).
Why don’t you look to the reality that Hulu is not available in Europe. That should provide you with all the indication that you need.
The reality is that international distribution is a legal quagmire, which is why shows are generally translated for American audiences (The Office, Kath & Kim, Life on Mars) instead of showing the original versions. If it were simple, everyone would offer everything internationally (including the BBC, which doesn’t allow US users to access its player).
Hulu is slowly taking over youtube as the go to video site because of its deals with various networks providing quality picture to the videos. Good for them.
Craig
http://www.budgetpulse.com
Fact or conjecture?
I’ve been a Hulu user and fan since its beta days. But I can tell you that, while my consumption of both have steadily increased, my once miserly consumption of YouTube is now three times that of Hulu. Currently, they serve different purposes/markets. I love Hulu for shows and such, but YouTube has more varied content and things that I’m interested in, professionally and casually. Have a curiousity itch, who ya gonna call?… YouTube (or Google Video). Further, YouTube has announced that it will soon enter the “primetime” video market.
I’m with you, Michael. I noticed the site still existed a couple months ago when I had broadband, but no television. I remembered the train-wreck images in the early articles, but gave it a shot…
A few episodes of the Daily Show and House … and a delightfully small amount of commercials (especially compared to “real” tv) later, I’m a fan.
Good job, Hulu. Products like yours are the real reason illegal bittorrenting of content will wane, not litigation. You make it easier, more convenient, higher quality, and profitable. Cheers.
I think that the historical credit should go to Joost as they were really the ones how brought the idea of Network backing Internet TV site. The thing is that their arrogance, not using flash and browser and having a start up run from six different places around the world made them loose steam fast but build the bridge for Hulu. NBC and Fox where looking for ways to beat the Viacom and Disney and yes means to beat YouTube . Hulu is a very simple and clear product while other Internet TVs are trying to be Web 3.0 Social TV interactive ad supported thing. So good luck to Hulu and everybody in the Internet TV game. One last remark it may have been a big mistake by fox not to buy YouTube instead of MySpace, in that case Hulu would have been redundant.
Yes, I love Hulu. HBO would be the next HUGE step for this service. If they added HBO shows then I would trash my TV and dedicate my eyeballs exclusively to Hulu!
It is really amazing! More and more ways to watch television… now even on cell phones.
Watch more! give your brain! -or what is left of it. No big deal… but it sure is the shortest path to early Alzheimer’s… and a HUGE butt!
Alzheimer’s??? Yes! It is proven that it could be delayed or prevented by keeping our minds active: reading more [amazing, huh?] interesting, mind-challenging books, learning one [or more] foreign languages, having stimulating conversations and positive relationships with other humans -family, etc.
I am sure that this comment will get responses from the hopeless far-gone TV-watching zombies out there…
Internationally, we get cable… If i pay my cable operator, which is the same as my ISP, then i pay for my content on cable, then i should be able to get it on hulu… Maybe there’s something more complex to it than just that (and that’s precisely why i don’t get it) but i would love to get hulu again, outside the US with no proxies (just detect my ISP and let me in, lol).
Hulu is the greatest thing to come to web. I don’t watch tv anywhere but on Hulu. I can’t wait to see it grow even more and add more shows!
Happy Birthday! I love the service. It has changed the way I watch television. Between Hulu (for movies and TV episodes) and iTunes Podcasts (for news), it’s becoming harder to justify my Comcast monthly subscription.
hulu is where i catched monk and southpark. i wont even compared it to youtube since both are aimed at different markets. but hulu totally rocks with the vast amount of tv shows.
In other words… premium/studio content >> user generated content.
There are valuable lessons if you look behind *why* something so seemingly doomed to failure ended up succeeding. In my interaction with Hulu and the people running it, they had more entrepreneurial freedom than most mega-corp ventures do.
Lesson learned: freedom to operate can work even in corp America
I’ve been watching Hulu since the beginning. I watch TV on my lunch break here at the office and at night it’s what me and my fiance use to watch TV. We have a 30″ dell monitor that is just for Hulu / DVDs and we never miss our favorite shows.
hulu !=cuil
You still have a standard home cable connection? fail
=D
You can watch Showtime shows on Fancast.com – Comcast’s answer to Hulu, though most of content if from Hulu, but not all.
Hulu definitely rocks…. I am sick of low quality content provided in other sites….
At first I was bitter about their decision of pulling all their content from iTunes, little after that, I was hooked. I still use it today and I love that I can even watch movies for free (with little ads). Thanks Hulu, and happy birthday.
I’m watching Hulu on my HDTV!
PCTVCables.com
they definitely need hbo !
Shame this site is US only for the moment with licencing issues. Or is it… Although it told me on the homepage that streaming wasn’t available for my locale, it then let me watch an SNL clip… Anyone care to explain?
Pretty good achievement for a company with corporate white elephants on board. Its time they opened the site for people outside US.
THe service is blocked if you are outside the US…”For now, Hulu is a U.S. service only. That said, our intention is to make Hulu’s growing content lineup available worldwide. ”
Let’s hope that happens soon .. hmmm