When did Hulu stop being free?

[ultimatebob]

Hulu used to have a free tier where you could watch popular shows on your laptop (but not on mobile devices or a set top box), but it seems like it's going away. Now the site is set up to make it look like you have to pay $8 a month to watch anything on the service or pay $12 a month to watch it with no commercials. It looks like there is still some free content there, but most of it is behind the pay wall.

Why does it look like they are trying to pull the plug on the free service? I guess that I should have seen it coming, since they made you sign up for a Hulu Plus account to watch content on mobile devices a long time ago.

 

[JEDIYoda]

perhaps they need to make some money to pay bills etc.........just a guess....

 

[ultimatebob]

perhaps they need to make some money to pay bills etc.........just a guess....

They have tons of ads in their content, and have been fighting ad blockers for awhile now. I'd imagine that they could at least break even with the non premium content.

It seems like they're trying to rebrand themselves to be more like a Netflix or Amazon Prime.... which seems dumb because they don't seem to have enough unique content to make subscribing worthwhile.

 

[JEDIYoda]

They have tons of ads in their content, and have been fighting ad blockers for awhile now. I'd imagine that they could at least break even with the non premium content.

It seems like they're trying to rebrand themselves to be more like a Netflix or Amazon Prime.... which seems dumb because they don't seem to have enough unique content to make subscribing worthwhile.

Nope!! It seems like you want something for free......

 

[Ns1]

They have tons of ads in their content, and have been fighting ad blockers for awhile now. I'd imagine that they could at least break even with the non premium content.

lol, how much do you think those ads pay?

 

[QueBert]

lol, how much do you think those ads pay?

If Ad Blockers didn't exist I bet Hulu would still have a free model. I can't say how much the ad's pay, but it was enough for them to have a free part, and I don't think the amount was the reason they dropped it. YEAH for Ad Blockers

 

[Ns1]

n/m

 

[DCal430]

Hulu is great for many things, their is tons of unique stuff on Hulu such is new movies and anime. They have the largest collection of newer movies and largest collection of anime. By far exceeding Netflix and Amazon in both categories. They also have recently aired TV shows, which can't be found on Amazon or Netflix. I pay $12 month for Hulu and it way better than Amazon prime video.

 

[gorcorps]

They have tons of ads in their content, and have been fighting ad blockers for awhile now. I'd imagine that they could at least break even with the non premium content.

It seems like they're trying to rebrand themselves to be more like a Netflix or Amazon Prime.... which seems dumb because they don't seem to have enough unique content to make subscribing worthwhile.

The biggest difference between Hulu and any other service is if they have shows you like, you see them as they air instead of when the entire season is released well after the fact. It's a very different service in that regard.

 

[ultimatebob]

lol, how much do you think those ads pay?

You would think that it would pay more than the bandwidth and server time needed to download the show. If it doesn't, they need to find a cheaper hosting service.

 

[Cerb]

When did they change it? I haven't used it for a few days, but it seemed the same as ever, then. But, the streaming quality of service is definitely better with Hulu+ (trial), and I've been tempted to get with the $12/mo plan for some of the movies. I just wish they'd keep a backlog of episodes for all series, instead of just 4 or 5 (even on +). But, even Hulu+ doesn't allow lots of content on anything but a PC, which also sucks (if they standardized on allowing everything on every device, and keeping an entire ongoing season for every show, I would have had the $12/mo subscription as soon as it was announced).

 

[JM Aggie08]

When did they change it? I haven't used it for a few days, but it seemed the same as ever, then. But, the streaming quality of service is definitely better with Hulu+ (trial), and I've been tempted to get with the $12/mo plan for some of the movies. I just wish they'd keep a backlog of episodes for all series, instead of just 4 or 5 (even on +). But, even Hulu+ doesn't allow lots of content on anything but a PC, which also sucks (if they standardized on allowing everything on every device, and keeping an entire ongoing season for every show, I would have had the $12/mo subscription as soon as it was announced).

These are some of my bigger gripes with their service. Though, I've only seen the lack of backlog on more 'flagship' shows for major networks, eg, Modern Family on ABC. I don't know if that's necessarily a Hulu or greedy network issue, though.

That said, I still subscribe. It's just too convenient.

 

[JEDIYoda]

You would think that it would pay more than the bandwidth and server time needed to download the show. If it doesn't, they need to find a cheaper hosting service.

or charge for the service.......

 

[Cerb]

These are some of my bigger gripes with their service. Though, I've only seen the lack of backlog on more 'flagship' shows for major networks, eg, Modern Family on ABC. I don't know if that's necessarily a Hulu or greedy network issue, though.

The very networks they do it with are the primary owners of Hulu (NBC, Fox, ABC), so it's not an either/or scenario. I don't think $12/mo is too much, but being able to have a few busy weeks and then not be able to catch up on shows makes me not want to pay them at any price, since they clearly have their heads up their asses (if I have to wait too long, I can just wait for it to be included with Netflix or Prime, so as not to watch out of order). It would be different if it were secondary networks doing it, but it's the owners, who have the most to gain by offering more of their content, and more to lose, since I wouldn't be using Hulu if I had a DVR to record from cable/sat.

 

[irishScott]

They have tons of ads in their content, and have been fighting ad blockers for awhile now. I'd imagine that they could at least break even with the non premium content.

It seems like they're trying to rebrand themselves to be more like a Netflix or Amazon Prime.... which seems dumb because they don't seem to have enough unique content to make subscribing worthwhile.

That's a matter of opinion. I like having access to Modern family, Vikings, South Park, Agents of SHIELD, Arrow, and other stuff.

 

[JM Aggie08]

The very networks they do it with are the primary owners of Hulu (NBC, Fox, ABC), so it's not an either/or scenario. I don't think $12/mo is too much, but being able to have a few busy weeks and then not be able to catch up on shows makes me not want to pay them at any price, since they clearly have their heads up their asses (if I have to wait too long, I can just wait for it to be included with Netflix or Prime, so as not to watch out of order). It would be different if it were secondary networks doing it, but it's the owners, who have the most to gain by offering more of their content, and more to lose, since I wouldn't be using Hulu if I had a DVR to record from cable/sat.

Yep, that's fair.

You know...I might just scrap it altogether. We already have DirectTV -- I just need to be more proactive in setting things to record.

 

[CA19100]

Hulu's free service ended about six years ago.

 

[turtile]

Well, what did you expect when companies like Comcast, Fox and Disney own Hulu?

 

[HeXen]

Lol, it's been so long ago that I had completely forgotten about Free Hulu. I remember I didn't care that much for it back then, not enough content unless you really liked the Simpsons and whatnot.
But it's cheaper these days to pay for several streaming services than pay for a single Comcast service. My Comcast service isn't even HD still, over the air local channels look soo much better but the wife has to have her ME channel and on demand.

 

[michal1980]

between hulu and Netflix. I've just cut my cable packge to starter tv,

$64 for 15mb internet, start tv (with cable card), hbo/showtime (includes taxes)

Was paying 173 for full cable, (also had cinemax), and 50mb internet.

Can get the 50mb net for +30.

Did buy a TiVo bolt+mini, break even point will be <4 months.

 

[slag]

Nope!! It seems like you want something for free......

No, re-read that. They have ads that generate revenue. I find issues with companies that want to double dip personally. Either charge me a fee and let me watch the content ad free, or make the viewing free and have ads for me to watch.

One of the main reasons I can't stand going to a movie theater and hate that my wife wont let me cancel hulu plus. I cut the cable cord for that very reason. They want to charge us $85/month for the privilege of watching cable AND keep all the commercials in there? LOL.. nope.

 

[Ns1]

Do the math bro.

Ad supported cable = $60 for 100+ channels
Premium non-ad supported cable = $45 for 3 channels

 

[slag]

Do the math bro.

Ad supported cable = $60 for 100+ channels
Premium non-ad supported cable = $45 for 3 channels

Not sure who this is directed at, but prices for packages vary wildly from city to city and region to region. The more people who subscribe, the price should get cheaper, but thats not how the companies work, so I say screw the entire thing, I'm not playing their game, and I'll go free OTA, deal with the ads since I'm not paying for their service, and supplement it with netflix which is ad free (because I'm paying for the service).

 

[ioni]

They changed their landing page a few weeks ago. It's really obnoxious. Even if you try to go directly to a show's page, you get redirected to that paywall page, but it only seems to happen around 90% of the time. On rare occasions, I can still go directly to a show page. The only reliable way I've found around it is to go you your account page, then use the menu at the top to go to popular tv or whatever and you can use the site like you used to be able to.

 

[FeuerFrei]

I wonder how many people they've fooled with the redirect. Oh noes. I was dismayed at first when I saw it a few weeks ago, but just click on the "HULU" in the top left corner and you'll get the normal main page back. Most new content is "subscribe" only but if you wait a week or two, you can still watch shows free.