Hulu hopes summer reruns will have viewers tuning into its website for original shows.
The online video site today unveiled (what was widely the worst kept secret in the business) a lineup of 10 shows — three original and seven exclusive to the site — that begin airing in June.
It’s the most aggressive announcement of unique content yet for Hulu, which is hoping the new shows will give viewers extra reason to view online content through Hulu. The site has been focusing more on original content even as its slate of available television shows and movies either shrink or move behind its Hulu Plus pay wall.
The original shows include movie review show “Spoilers” with Kevin Smith, travel series “Up To Speed” with Richard Linklater, and comedy “We Got Next.” The exclusives include U.K. comedy “Rev,” comedy “The Yard,” magic show “Derren Brown: Inside Your Mind,” sci-fi show “The Booth at the End,” drama “Pramface,” drama “The Promise,” and comedy “Little Mosque.”
Hulu also held an “upfront” presentation to advertisers, which has historically been used by traditional networks to pitch advertisers on their upcoming programming, and Hulu has been left out of them since it didn’t offer its own content.
Despite concerns that consumer interest in Hulu is waning, the company said last month that it had reached 2 million Hulu Plus premium subscribers.
This deal is HUGE, because it can allow for aggressive cross-branding within it’s popular repeats of syndicated shows. Add in the fact that these shows can be viewed from mobile devices across the board and this smells of success. But it could also be a train wreck in waiting, as casual audiences have been a tough sell on original web TV content not fronted by a “sexy marquee name” on the bill.
My main problem with hulu (and netflix) is that I can’t view it in my country (holland here)
But from what I’ve seen on Hulu (using good proxies :> ) it barely even offers content. I wanted to watch hmm I believe it was Fam Guy and like ~1 perhaps ~1 1/2 season was available.
Kinda waste of time if you want to start watching the series. Rather obtain it less legal than have to scour the entire net to find the series legally.
I just dropped Hulu Plus due to the ads. I have a really hard time paying $10 per month with ads. IN ADDITION, the ads are totally obnoxious. I wouldn’t even mind if they were at the beginning only but they interrupt the show all the way through.
I remember when this was a Google buying HULU rumour. It seems as if it was just yesterday… Oh wait, it was just yesterday.
I see them slamming head first in to the MySpace Wall……
I enjoy Hulu, but I still don’t know what a “clay movie” is.
I mean, on the Hulu Plus ad, where the guy says:
“Wanna watch a clay movies?” … huh?
No I don’t want to watch a Claymation movie.
… Ah, I get it; he’s trying to say: “acclaimed movies”.
But wanna input that you have a very decent website, I like the design and style it actually stands out.
Sometimes Hulu can’t offer full seasons, or they can’t even offer an episode right after it airs. That has to do, probably, with their agreements with the networks. Why would you go and watch it on TV if you can watch it for free on Hulu? So that’s why they can’t have all the episodes for certain shows.