News - US video streaming site Hulu set for UK launch

[HEXUS]

Popular free US TV streaming service is reported to be planning to launch over here in September.

Read more.

[Azza]

Does this mean we will be able to watch US TV over here now... or is it just going to be for UK TV?

[amdavies]

The indications were that it'd be American and British TV.
However, I would guess that it's only certain (mostly older) shows as much of the US terrestrial television content is split up between pay TV and free-to-air over here so there would be issues with having all the newest stuff. For instance, Sky are/were pushing Lost as a big reason to get their pay TV service, so having it available for free online would cause them a loss of income.

[format]

Good news

[Crevan]

so having it available for free online

So as I understand, the service is free in the US (and probably will be free here as well)?

[maxwilson]

This would be awesome, I'm really sick of watching American shows in dire quality on the likes of Megavideo.

Cant Wait!

[danroyle]

this will be good another reason to ditch sky hopefully am fed up giving them £40+ a month and there seems to be less and less to watch

[TheAnimus]

Haha perfect timing, just as a mate of mine is moving back the US, he was always complaining that it wasn't available here!

[Spud1]

I would be amazed if we get any US TV content at all without having to pay some sort of subscription..the TV model over here is so so different to the USA..I can't see it working.

What is more likely imo is that we will have a central source for UK TV online. So you will be able to watch BBC/ITV/C4/C5 content (which will include Dave's content etc for example, as its BBC originals), but not US shows from those channels (so no online simpsons etc).

Would be awesome if we got US shows too, but it would be a bit of a crazy move by the TV studios..

[Spud1]

double post

[staffsMike]

Got to agree with Spud, that is how it read for me. Older US TV shows.. maybe at a push but nothing remotely new.

Probably nothing that has the potential to be released over here either.

It is a shame though as I like to watch a lot more US tv than UK.

[TheBloodyNine]

I’m not sure if they will be aloud to show all of the terrestrial content from the UK, i.e. BBC ITV Channel 4. If I’m not mistaken they were working on their own project to provide that sort of service, code name "Kangaroo" I believe, but OFTEL/Competition Commission decided having one simple free service with all the content on it went against public interest and forced them to shut it down.

I’m not sure what yard sticks they used to measure this though but I doubt the situation has changed enough for them to allow this with out going against their previous ruling?

[Spud1]

I’m not sure if they will be aloud to show all of the terrestrial content from the UK, i.e. BBC ITV Channel 4. If I’m not mistaken they were working on their own project to provide that sort of service, code name "Kangaroo" I believe, but OFTEL/Competition Commission decided having one simple free service with all the content on it went against public interest and forced them to shut it down.

I’m not sure what yard sticks they used to measure this though but I doubt the situation has changed enough for them to allow this with out going against their previous ruling?

Possibly but it might not be an issue since the new service would be 100% independantly owned and operated (in which neither the bbc/C4/C5 etc have a direct interest)? Not sure tbh.

The other option is that it could be subscription based in the EU/UK and still show US shows..although I am not sure how this would affect contracts that Sky etc hold for initial broadcast rights in certain regions.