Is hulu for u?
March 11, 2008
Tomorrow, the video streaming service hulu [discuss] opens its digital doors after a closed beta period during which the site began serving clips and full episodes from NBC Universal (including related networks like USA and Bravo) and News Corp. (FOX, FX, etc.). More shows as well as films are expected shortly from other partners soon including the NHL, NBA, WWE, Lionsgate, Warner Bros, and even the satirical news outlet, The Onion. (more details at MediaWeek)
It’s not quite right to call hulu a YouTube killer since its concept of community and content is much different and much more controlled. Unlike YouTube, you can’t upload video to hulu; the only content featured is that which the studios choose. If anything, the major criticism of hulu has been this selective rationing of content. Yes, popular shows like The Office, House, and Family Guy are featured, but not every episode. In a way, it’s a little like OnDemand programming, where only a handful of episodes are available at a time. There is advertising on hulu, but it’s never longer than a 30-second spot dropped in where regular commercial breaks would be during the broadcast.
As far as interacting with the content or other users, no one would confuse hulu with a social network, but users can create playlists, write reviews, and embed video on their own blog of social network page (see our embed below).
It’s unclear if the sheer quality of content on hulu (the hulu player is arguably a step up from YouTube’s interface) will start to chip away at YouTube’s lead as a video portal. But, the fact that hulu has chosen to provide not only full episodes, but also snack-sized clips indicates they are eager to capture some of that elusive short-attention-span / blogger marketshare. In the past, media bloggers and journalists would use a number of other sites (YouTube, DailyMotion, etc.) to pull in video from certain shows (for example the wildly viral Saturday Night Live Democratic Debate) — now hulu enables the original owner of that content to be part of the embed mix.
Let us know what you think of hulu, or tell us about your favorite video sharing site by commenting below.
March 11, 2008 at 2:38 pm
It’s good that they are offering these clips online. People want them. If consumers love your products and want to express that, let them. Whether it’s a TV show, a movie, some coffee, a band… give them more. Make official desktop and myspace backgrounds, avatars, ringtones, etc. for consumers to use.
Embrace the community of your brand evangelists. Look at Harley-Davidson, people are so passionate about that brand that they get the HD logo tattooed on their body. Imagine this on a digital scale. It has begun with myspace co-sponsored theme page designs for The Simpson’s Movie.