When did Hulu stop being free?

[NaughtyGeek]

I can't believe people pay for a streaming service that includes advertisements. I didn't make it past the free trial for this very reason.

 

[ControlD]

I can't believe people pay for a streaming service that includes advertisements. I didn't make it past the free trial for this very reason.

Well, I think Hulu is of extremely limited use for people that still have cable. I mean, who doesn't have a DVR with multiple tuners these days to record whatever you want to watch later? If you are trying to cut the cord however, Hulu even with the ads provides as useful service.

I haven't used it in years, but most of the people I know that have cut the cord do.

 

[irishScott]

Well, I think Hulu is of extremely limited use for people that still have cable. I mean, who doesn't have a DVR with multiple tuners these days to record whatever you want to watch later? If you are trying to cut the cord however, Hulu even with the ads provides as useful service.

I haven't used it in years, but most of the people I know that have cut the cord do.

This. I don't have cable and never intend to get a cable subscription, just a giant waste of money for a more restrictive service and tons of content I'll never watch. HBO Now, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon (both Prime and Instant Video) cost far less than equivalent cable packages and give me more good content than I can possibly consume, and I have an antenna for live broadcasts (assuming it isn't livestreaming somewhere). For me it's simply a more enjoyable and more efficient system, even with the occasional ad (Hulu's ads are still less than cable or broadcast).

 

[slag]

I mean, who doesn't have a DVR with multiple tuners these days to record whatever you want to watch later?

I would venture to say most people don't. I work in an IT department and most of the people I've asked around here in the past 10 minutes don't DVR things or have a DVR at their house. I think it used to be more prevalent but not so much anymore because it is so easy and legal to watch the shows online or through one of said pay services.

 

[ControlD]

I would venture to say most people don't. I work in an IT department and most of the people I've asked around here in the past 10 minutes don't DVR things or have a DVR at their house. I think it used to be more prevalent but not so much anymore because it is so easy and legal to watch the shows online or through one of said pay services.

Do most of those people pay for cable TV service?

Most of the people I know close to my age have the DVR cable box from their cable / satellite provider. On the other hand, a good number (the majority even) of people I know under the age of 30 get all of their content through streaming services. Maybe it's an age thing. I'm 46 and I wish I had more than four tuners! Mainly because my wife is a DVR power user.

 

[momeNt]

DVR seems to only really draw the sportsfans. So many shows are on demand through cable or satellite providers that the DVR costing that extra $10 a month has drastically cut down on its popularity.

TV providers probably make a lot of extra money by pricing out DVR though from the ad revenue I would imagine, on demand still has commercials built in that you can't fast forward.

 

[Ns1]

Do most of those people pay for cable TV service?

Most of the people I know close to my age have the DVR cable box from their cable / satellite provider. On the other hand, a good number (the majority even) of people I know under the age of 30 get all of their content through streaming services. Maybe it's an age thing. I'm 46 and I wish I had more than four tuners! Mainly because my wife is a DVR power user.

Isn't each DVR Box around $25/month? So 4 boxes
+ Internet + cable= > $200/month to the cable co?

I mean that's why I left TWC. I was okay with paying the cable/tv rates but those equipment rates were obscene.

 

[rip]

Hulu quit being free when they got enough users who loved it.
Think AVG, CCleaner, Malwarebytes....this stuff was free and folks jumped all over it because it worked (AND it was free and easy to get). There are still free versions of course but, to get the whole package now you pay. Fair enough I say because the free versions do the job for me but, they are good pieces of software - well not AVG so much - and are worth the nominal fee if you need all the extra stuff.

 

[dainthomas]

Hulu is great for traveling. I'll watch my DVR at home, but if I'm on the road I'll pack my chromecast to catch up on shows. I pay a couple bucks more for the ad free version.

 

[zinfamous]

Hulu recently jumped into producing original content to stay competitive with NFLX and AMZN.

Or, they've at least bought the rights to some existing content that is now HULU exclusive--like The Mindy Project, I think?

If they are tossing a lot of eggs in that basket over the next several years, I don't see how they could maintain any part of a free service. That, and the licensing fees for syndicated content has gotten exponentially more expensive over the last handful of years, I think.

 

[ControlD]

Isn't each DVR Box around $25/month? So 4 boxes
+ Internet + cable= > $200/month to the cable co?

I mean that's why I left TWC. I was okay with paying the cable/tv rates but those equipment rates were obscene.

I believe I was paying right around $28 a month for our TWC DVR when the service was factored in. For the most part you only need one DVR box however (on the main TV).

I use a Tivo these days so I have access to all of our DVR content from one box. If I had to pay for four DVR boxes my cable bill would be closer to $300 a month. I think I am paying around $170 as it is with no premium channels and no DVR rental fee.

 

[slag]

I believe I was paying right around $28 a month for our TWC DVR when the service was factored in. For the most part you only need one DVR box however (on the main TV).

I use a Tivo these days so I have access to all of our DVR content from one box. If I had to pay for four DVR boxes my cable bill would be closer to $300 a month. I think I am paying around $170 as it is with no premium channels and no DVR rental fee.

Is that just cable TV or cable and internet?

I pay $45/month for sling, netflix, and hulu and would love to drop hulu but am overruled by my wife. I don't count prime in because while we watch prime shows, its not the reason we got it. I still think that's too much with everything else we have, free OTA with tons of shows on, etc. I couldn't fathom paying $170 a month just to watch TV, especially when we don't sit in front of the TV much anyway.

 

[ControlD]

Is that just cable TV or cable and internet?

That's for cable TV, internet and phone service.

I live in a small market so I pay the typical small market monopoly cable price. I actually don't watch that much TV either, but my family does so I doubt I could ever convince them to drop cable.

 

[edro]

I just signed up for Hulu Plus Ad Free. It's $11.99 instead of $7.99.
Watched for first time last night, ad free.
Damn it is sooo worth the $4/mo.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Which one of these services offer live, local HD sports? None? That's what I thought, gotta keep the cord.

 

[ultimatebob]

Which one of these services offer live, local HD sports? None? That's what I thought, gotta keep the cord.

The WatchESPN service does, but you need a cable subscription to use it.

 

[BrokenVisage]

The WatchESPN service does, but you need a cable subscription to use it.

They wouldn't have recurring local sports games though, and I don't think NBC-SN has a similar service, otherwise yeah I would just piggy-back off my grandparents cable subscription.

 

[edro]

Which one of these services offer live, local HD sports? None? That's what I thought, gotta keep the cord.

Stop wasting your time watching sports.

jk... I gotta watch too.

 

[ioni]

Which one of these services offer live, local HD sports? None? That's what I thought, gotta keep the cord.

OTA/local sports bar?