Olivia Munn, geek goddess of Attack of the Show, posted an interesting tweet last night. "Just finished promos for hulu/microsoft event I'm doing on june 8!" Just what hulu/Microsoft event could she be referring to?

To us, it seems likely that this event is supporting a Hulu on Xbox 360 announcement coming at E3. Why? Because Hulu on the 360 makes a lot of sense. Quite simply, it's the best internet service you can bring to a TV. So if Microsoft were to pick just one piece of internet entertainment to offer Xboxers (and with no web browser, they need to pick and choose), Hulu (and maybe YouTube) would be top on the list.

Also note that in Europe, Microsoft is supporting the Sky Player. It's a media content service somewhat like hulu but with support for live shows. And it's being integrated right into the XMB. We could see hulu arrive to the platform in a very similar manner. (So it'll probably look a bit different from our tongue-in-cheek artist's rendering.)

But the biggest reason that we're betting on Hulu 360 is because Microsoft's Shane Kim admitted months ago that the company was investigating Hulu connectivity on the platform. So don't be surprised if we hear more next week at E3. Microsoft's press conference is on Monday and we'll be there liveblogging. [Thanks Jake!]


http://gizmodo.com/5272573/is-hulu-coming-to-xbox-360

I know it's been a year, but there is now more supposed confirmation that it might be coming this year.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20006523-1.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

While I have PlayOn so I already have Hulu through the 360 (and PS3) I will consider ponying up a subscription for access to a native player that functions more like Netflix does (with FF/Rew/Resume functionality) and hopefully better quality. It'll definitely bring me a huge step closer to cutting that cable cord.


Gear Live has a source (it claims has never been wrong) that says that at 2010's E3 conference, which starts on the 14th, Microsoft will announce that Hulu will be coming to the Xbox 360.
The Xbox Live platform is already a great way to watch Netflix streaming, as it's already in many living rooms plugged into many HDTVs. And the quality is exceptional. By adding Hulu, Microsoft takes another step toward eliminating the need for cable or satellite TV. For many, the ideal is to have all the content you want when you want it over the broadband Internet connection you're already paying for.

That doesn't mean it'll be free; indeed, Gear Live's source says it will be subscription based, much as Netflix's streaming service already is, starting at $8 a month. There's a supposition that the Hulu subscription will require Microsoft Points, and it would make sense to us if all the video subscription services got folded under one umbrella to be paid for quarterly, monthly, yearly, or all three.
We're hoping Hulu and Microsoft give us access to the entire Hulu catalog. We're also hoping other deals like this follow. If Live can lasso up ABC, Comedy Central, and a few others, then cable TV could really become deprecated. With the PS3 announcing a hook up with HBO last week, Google TV launching, and rumors of a new, cheaper Apple TV, we see this trend continuing.

I really hope that if this happens its not treated like a separate service (which I think it will be). As the article stated they really need to fold all these services into a single payment option (the rumored xbox live platinum service). Still would rather see a zune video pass than hulu because hulu does not do 1080p or 5.1 audio as well as lacking in the new release movie dept.

Hulu is definitely more about TV than movies. The article mentions "outstanding quality" so I hope it's on-par with Netflix, which while not perfect, is better than Hulu through the website or PlayOn.

well I asked roku about hulu and all they would say is they were working on it.
I do not know what that means exactly.

Overall I think that they are now going to charge $$$ and state there will be MORE ads.
Why the F are they charging....DO ONE OR THE OTHER.

I'd love to be proven wrong, but I just don't see it happening. The content providers, who control Hulu, already have lucrative distribution channels to the living room. Hulu exists as an attractive alternative to internet piracy, not to viewing via cable/sat/ota.

I'd love to be proven wrong, but I just don't see it happening. The content providers, who control Hulu, already have lucrative distribution channels to the living room. Hulu exists as an attractive alternative to internet piracy, not to viewing via cable/sat/ota.

But at some point they have to realize many people will just hook up their computers to their tv's... its getting easier to do with the advent of hdmi on laptops/desktops.

I do think if they charge it needs to be for ad free viewing with full access to libraries. If they charge and still have more ads it will be a big failure IMO.

But at some point they have to realize many people will just hook up their computers to their tv's... its getting easier to do with the advent of hdmi on laptops/desktops.

I do think if they charge it needs to be for ad free viewing with full access to libraries. If they charge and still have more ads it will be a big failure IMO.

Or they can use a media server to stream it (I use PlayOn but I'm sure there are other options).

Right now I don't mind the 15-30 second ads, but certainly don't want to see more (especially if I'm paying for it).

My bigger complaint is Hulu still clutters up the screen with a station logo and a "hulu" logo. I want a clean screen if I'm paying for something. I mean, I wouldn't want to see a "Netflix" and "Universal" bug on my Netflix streaming titles, so I don't want it on my Hulu feed either.

I do hope this happens at a reasonable cost. I have been holding off on cutting switching to FIOS (from DirecTV) and getting into a 2 year contract in hopes something like this will come along this year.

But at some point they have to realize many people will just hook up their computers to their tv's... its getting easier to do with the advent of hdmi on laptops/desktops.

I do think if they charge it needs to be for ad free viewing with full access to libraries. If they charge and still have more ads it will be a big failure IMO.


I don't see this happening for a while until new PC platforms become the norm in homes.
Most people don't upgrade every 2-3 years but more like 5-10 years.

I see more people buying streaming appliances like the $99 Apple TV that makes it an easy impulse purchase or even a $150 blu-ray player with streaming capabilities but then these appliances need to offer Hulu.

When I bought my first computer (TRS-80 MC10, around 1983) it was designed to be hooked to a TV set. So was my Atari 600XL, 130XE & C64.

After that we moved to computer monitors because they offered better resolution and picture quality. And now we are back to hooking up our PC to TV set :D

What was old is new again... Now if we could bring back the good old day of BBSing and I'll be in heaven.

yes but they are also doing different tiers for free and pay services. You get like the last 5 episodes for free but pay for all shows.

Like was posted before the providers were against the tv but ok with pc watching. There are a few (2) I think options to get it to the tv.

BUT just like I phone.. NO MORE UNLIMITED
the internet providers will soon be on a pay by the G usage so all of this will again be a waste of money.

yep I only pay $20 a month for all that internet tv watching and a netflix movie is only another $20
BUT I also pay $200 a month in charges to get it delivered.

I don't see this happening for a while until new PC platforms become the norm in homes.
Most people don't upgrade every 2-3 years but more like 5-10 years.

I see more people buying streaming appliances like the $99 Apple TV that makes it an easy impulse purchase or even a $150 blu-ray player with streaming capabilities but then these appliances need to offer Hulu.
The xbox is microsofts box.... it just costs a bit more than the rumored appletv or roku (but does a hell of alot more). I do think the 360slim (whenever its announced) will be cheaper as well but they will also probably be getting a price increase when they start bundling natal in.

I personally think the fact that the 360 is also a game console is a huge advantage and it has sold close to 40 million units now (20 of those in the US). I know that is a bit misleading because not all 360's are hooked up to live and these services will require gold. The figure Ive continually heard is that the gold subscriber rate is 50% of xbox's sold which would give you an install base of around 10 million hooked up to the internet ready to consume media. According to the link below that would make xbox live the 5th largest cable/satellite provider in the US. Now I am comparing apples to oranges somewhat because not every xbox user wants tv but its still a staggering number they can leverage to get the content providers on board.

http://www.ncta.com/Stats/TopMSOs.aspx

But at some point they have to realize many people will just hook up their computers to their tv's... its getting easier to do with the advent of hdmi on laptops/desktops.

I think they (Hulu/content providers) realize that people are able to get Hulu off the PC and on to the television via PlayOn (which I currently use) or vga/hdmi/etc. (which I used before I got PlayOn). It's a growing phenomenon, but still a drop in the bucket. Installing a home media server or connecting a laptop to the TV might sound perfectly reasonable to regulars on this board, but is probably never going to be a mainstream solution.

As you note, the xbox is in millions of homes, so putting hulu on xbox (or bluray players, roku, or other devices that the average person connects to his TV) is categorically different from the current PC-based model. Like I said, I'd love to see hulu on xbox; I'd just be surprised to see it anytime soon.

Not gonna happen at E3.