Bottom Of The Barrel

Do you Hulu?

Hulu is the long awaited iTunes replacement that NBC has been working on since last spring. I was invited to join the beta program yesterday and so far I am pleasantly surprised with the interface and amount of content available.

Hulu has signed licensing deals with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM)and Sony Pictures Television, will offer content from two leading broadcast networks (Fox and NBC), over 15 cable networks (Bravo, E! Entertainment, FX, Sci Fi, USA, and more), four of the largest Studios (Fox, MGM, Sony and Universal) and a broad array of independent, web-centric content providers and they also have partnerships with such leading programmers as Reveille, Smithsonian Networks, and World Wrestling Entertainment.

The list of shows they currently have available is quite long for a beta release including current shows like 30 Rock, Bionic Woman, Chuck, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, House, Las Vegas, Life, Monk, My Name Is Earl, The Office, Prison Break, Scrubs, and The Simpsons. They also have some vintage shows like The A-Team, Airwolf, Arrested Development, The Bob Newhart Show , Buck Rogers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doogie Howser, M.D., Hill Street Blues, Kojak, The Loop, Miami Vice, Outer Limits, The Pretender, Roswell, Simon & Simon, and WKRP in Cincinnati.

At this point my only "complaint" is that shows like Back To You or Damages, which are new shows this year, do not include all of the episodes online. The odd thing is with BTY, they currently have all of the first season except the pilot. I had assumed they would use this new technology to get people hooked on their new shows. Well at least I can go and watch the A-Team pilot from 1983.

I'm not sure how long it will take before they can replace the revenue stream that their former iTunes relationship created, but it looks like they are off to a good start. Now go and sign up for your very own access to the Hulu beta.

posted by TheWino @ 6:30 AM