HULU to start charging?

[Previsionary]

Well, this news has started floating around, but it seems by some time in 2010, Hulu will no longer be totally free and will be offering up subscription plans.

At an industry summit in NYC on Oct. 21, News Corp Deputy Chairman Chase Carey revealed that online video hub Hulu will begin charging users for content as soon as 2010, according to Broadcasting and Cable. Carey told reporters that a subscription system is likely, although some content will probably continue to be offered free of charge. “I think a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of our content. I think what we need to do is deliver that content to consumers in a way where they will appreciate the value,” he said.

Any thoughts? IIRC, Youtube and other sites also offer up tv shows/cartoons (excluding user uploaded content) for free, so this should prove interesting.

[Ajax]

If they go to a subscription model I will stop watching Hulu. I thought the entire point of it was they get their money through commercials? Knowing the way they do business you will still have to watch ads even though you pay the subscription fee.

[lugaru]

I will gladly pay for HULU if they stop getting rid of shows. Like if I could pull up any episode, from any season, of the shows that they normally air, well that is better than netflix. If I was expected to pay for what they do right now, you know, drop shows after a few weeks and purge their back catalog constantly, well it will not happen.

And if they can pick up some cable shows, well all the more reason. I would love to go back and watch any episode of the wire or the sopranos. Seriosly they could be the netflix of tv, if they do things right.

[Figure Fan]

Looks like I will never use Hulu again. Cool. So much for The Office reruns on Friday afternoon if I miss it on Thursday night. Whatever.

[thalaw2]

It really sucks that everything in the U.S. seems to have a fee lately...whereas overseas many of the things are free. 

I watch my favorite TV shows online because they are translated (into subtitles) by volunteers who want to learn English.  It's cool for me cuz it's a two way learning exchange.  The back catalog of classic TV shows isn't there but at least all the new stuff is.

[MJB]

Well If Hulu charges I'll stop using it. I'm glad I finally broke down and picked up DVR.

[House Quake]

I would never suggest that any one goes the route of torrents... but.............

[Tomato]

ehhh... I don't see this working out too well for them... I know several companies only host episodes on hulu because it's convenient for consumers. So not only would this alienate hulu "customers", they'd lose a big chunk of their content in the long run.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

I'm with many of you.  If they start charging, I'm gone.