More on Hulu going - or not going? - to paid service and iTunes & TV Networks

I know this strays a little bit from the mac mini as a HTPC, but it seems that these kind of topics fall in the context of what we're playing with. Hopefully, most readers will find this of interest.

So Hulu may not be going to paid service? Make up your minds!
Click here to read the official link, or look below.

And, Apple is talking with the major networks? Apple TV ver. 3.0 just came out and the ever mounting rumors of the tablet/slate/hand-held-thingy makes this of interest too...
Click here for the official post, or read below.

Report: Hulu will not go pay-only

by Dan Moren, Macworld.com

Sometimes, it seems like you just can’t take anything corporate executives say at face value these days. One day, it’s “we’re thinking about charging for Hulu!” and the next it’s “What? We would never do that! … Probably.”

Entertainment Weekly, of all places, quotes a source who insists that turning the online video-streaming service into a pay site is not in the cards. Well, mostly.

A source close to Hulu, however, tells EW that the site remains steadfastly committed to free content, explaining that any possible subscription or pay-per-view service has no set timeline and would only build upon what Hulu offers, not replace it.

The earlier remarks on Hulu's pay plans came from News Corp.’s Deputy Chairman, the alliteratively named Chase Carey, who said at a conference last month that Hulu might have to turn to a subscription model to start pulling in the dough.

As I speculated at the time, this seemed like another attempt by one of Hulu’s chief stake holders to hoist a flag and see which way the wind was blowing—given the amount of negative press generated by the suggestion, it was easy enough to reel it in again. Plus, Hulu gets to look like the good guy for shaking off its greedy corporate backers in favor of its users, and that kind of thing builds loyalty—loyalty that you can eventually turn into money when you do introduce some sort of pay model.

Look, I think there’s little question that there will be some pay-content on Hulu in the next year or two: were the service to acquire content produced by pay cable networks like HBO, for example, or start offering new release movies that would compete with the likes of the iTunes Store. But as along as the core experience of ad-supported streaming of new television sticks around, users will likely stay put—and some of them might even be willing to hand over money for additional features (that rumored iPhone app, perhaps?) and content.

Apple Pitching iTunes Subscriptions to TV Networks?

Monday November 02, 2009 12:15 PM EST
Written by Eric Slivka

MediaMemo reports that Apple has approached a number of TV networks in recent weeks to pitch its vision of a monthly subscription service that would allow the networks to deliver their content to consumers via iTunes with the idea of replacing consumers' cable packages.

Apple isn't tying the proposed service to a specific piece of hardware, like its underwhelming Apple TV box, or its long-rumored tablet/slate device. Instead, it is presenting the offer as an extension of its iTunes software, which already has a huge installed base: A year ago, Apple said it had 65 million iTunes customer accounts.

A so-called "over the top" service could theoretically rival the ones most consumers already buy from cable TV operators -- if Apple is able to get enough buy-in from broadcast and cable TV programmers.

Apple is reportedly looking to launch the service early next year but faces a number of hurdles, the most significant being that no networks have yet to sign on to the plan. Disney, which holds close ties with Apple CEO Steve Jobs and has been an early-adopter of iTunes distribution offerings, is viewed as the likely leader should the movement hope to gain momentum.

According to the report's sources, TV networks are intrigued by the potential for increased revenue streams that could be afforded by Apple's proposal, but are also leery of harming their existing relationships with the cable companies that carry their programming and advertisers who look to viewership numbers on those systems when targeting their campaigns.

The report notes that other companies, including Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and Google's YouTube have also been moving into the digital delivery arena, indicating that the time may be right for Apple to make its move.

So Apple's proposed subscription service, which the company has floated in the past, is no longer a huge stretch. Says one executive briefed on the company's plans: "I think they might get it right this time."