Hulu video site takes to the floor
Posted on March 13, 2008
Filed Under Vnunet |
Shaun Nichols in California, vnunet.com, Thursday 13 March 2008 at
00:00:00
Ad-supported TV show and movie site backed by NBC and News Corp
Hulu, the video site backed by NBC and News Corp, officially opened to the
public on Wednesday following a closed beta testing period which began in
October. Hulu will allow users to view clips and full-length episodes of TV
shows and movies. The videos are free, but users will have to sit through
advertisements in order to watch the shows and films. The site will launch with
roughly 250 shows and about 100 feature-length films from the two studios. The
site also expects to add new content in the future, when Warner Bros and Lion’s
Gate come onboard. Jason Kilar, chief executive at Hulu, said: “With
full-length episodes of current and archived television shows, feature films,
sports and news, we believe Hulu is a step forward in giving consumers
entertainment on their terms. ” Hulu is the latest attempt by television and
film studios to build a money-making legal video site to rival YouTube. The
studios have long been at odds with YouTube over the site’s inability to
prevent users posting copyrighted videos. NBC and News Corp began work on the
Hulu service last summer. The two companies hope that the effort will spread
beyond NBC and News Corp, and bring new consumers and studios onto the site.
“Hulu’s impressive content line up and user experience are equally important in
bringing consumers back again and again,” said Jeff Zucker, president and chief
executive at NBC Universal. “These are the same attributes that make Hulu
attractive to major brands. Both groups see the value in a quality,
clutter-free online service.”
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