Hulu future foggy, bids for company due Wednesday

Software

Bids for the online streaming company Hulu are due on Wednesday but it is still unclear what the company’s future will hold. Bidders will “submit proposals with wide price ranges based on what types of television shows Hulu would license, when those shows would become available on Hulu and how long the agreements would stretch,” The Wall Street Journal said in a report. Most recently, Hulu changed its licensing terms and now offers television shows eight days after they air, which could turn some viewers off from the service entirely. Previously, Hulu allowed viewers to watch their favorite shows for free the day after they aired, a much more attractive option. Hulu Plus subscribers can still watch new episodes the next day. Rumors surfaced in July that Apple was pondering a Hulu purchase and The Wall Street Journal said Amazon, Google, DirecTV and Yahoo are among those who have been named as potential bidders. Industry insiders have suggested company could fetch between $500 million and $2 billion.

12 Comments
  • Vel4769

    I like the the free hulu.

  • Anonymous

    Oh wow Might be the end of the free hulu.

  • http://twitter.com/Waazzupppp Ron Lunsford

    We have Hulu+ and could even live with the 8 day windows for shows, but it sure would be nice for some expanded content – if they survive…

  • http://twitter.com/luke911 Jeromy L

    I thought it was only Fox doing the eight day restriction? Did BGR get the scoop on all shows going to eight days?

  • Anonymous

    Out of all those potential suitors, it seems only Apple or DirecTV would have any leeway with the networks to improve content on Hulu. 

    Then again, why would Apple want to stream these shows to you, either for free or with a subscription, when they can sell or rent you the episodes and get a bigger cut through iTunes? 

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6HpRLyzMY Walter Sobchak

    Hulu sucks taint.
    Norm will confirm this.

    • http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

      Hulu is lame. Netflix on demand beats it easily. Also with many major stations airing their shows on their own websites within a few weeks of air time Hulu really has very little to offer.

      • Anonymous

        Netflix onDemand doesn’t even compare to HULU. . . . Hulu = New Shows. Netflix onDemand = Year old shows…. Not even the same type of service.

  • Anonymous

    If it doesn’t whorl outside of the U.S. it has NO real value to anyone. Plus, if Apple can get licensing, delays just Hulu seem useless. There are a zillion ways to watch TV an hour after a show is broadcast. If you’re going to build your business around TV, you have to make it convenient for customers in ’11 & beyond! Hulu’s probably dying to get bought by someone with money to waste. Doesn’t seem like they have a future internationally.

  • Anonymous

    Just imagine what Hulu/Netflix/ could be if the big media corporations would properly support them, instead of doing everything in their power to kill them.

  • Anonymous

    Hulu is plain garbage. Also hate how the only got freggin 1 to 2 minute clips of things.

  • Anonymous

    Only the licensing on Fox shows changed to 8 days. None of the others have changed recently.

blog comments powered by Disqus