Hulu to debut this month. Is it already too late?

hulu-logo.jpgIt’s October, and you know what that means. No, not the World Series. Hulu, the joint online video venture between News Corp. and NBC, is scheduled to make its grand entrance, at least in beta form.

The question is: Is Hulu too late?

Shira Ovide explores this question for SmartMoney, noting that in the six months since the formation of the site the now-named Hulu may have lost its “cache” and become “irrelevant”.

hulu-front-page-small.jpgDuring these six months, the networks — including Fox and NBC — have done a bang-up job getting shows on their Web sites for quality streaming, even though there is room for improvement. The networks also have been exploring other means of distribution for their content such as Apple’s iTunes store, Amazon’s Unbox, even Wal-Mart, and have been firming up their digital technologies and strategies. NBC even launched NBC Direct, where people can download ad-supported TV programs for free.

With all this activity, many pundits are asking if there is a need for another online video site and how Hulu fits into the broad Internet strategies pursued by the networks. Hulu remains a work in progress and is a bit of a mystery as it’s keeping details under wraps. When available, Hulu is expected to show full videos of TV series and short TV and movie clips from News Corp. and NBC properties, as well as other television networks.

Owners of those other networks, including Viacom (MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount Pictures), Disney (ABC), CBS, Time Warner, TBS, TNT and others, have not signed on yet. It’s like they are taking a wait-and-see stance. If Hulu is successful, they sign on; if not, bye bye.

“Hulu is overkill,” Kathy Sharpe told SmartMoney. Sharpe, chief executive of a New York interactive advertising agency, added, “It’s becoming aparent that you don’t have to have a Hulu for the networks to put out quality video or trailers to get consumers to watch.”

Said Richard DeSilva, a partner at the venture firm Highland Capital Partners, “I don’t think the world needs another online video site. Why would you go to Hula.com versus Yahoo?”

nbc-directsmall.jpgHulu, touted originally as the next YouTube, has said users might see better-quality video and an improved way to slice-and-dice video clips for personal use. Its user experience must be better than the network sites, or why would one choose to watch “The Office” or “My Name is Earl” on Hulu instead of the NBC site for streaming?

Hulu hopes to, according to Hulu CEO Jason Kilar, help users “find and enjoy the world’s premier content when, where, and how you want it.”

If that’s the case, if NBC, Fox, CBS, ABC, and leading cable channels, are involved, and Hulu’s user experience is top-notch, then Hulu might survive. Otherwise, as Sharpe said, “In 18 months it will be ‘Hulu what?’”

last100 is edited by Steve O'Hear. Aside from founding last100, Steve is co-founder and CEO of Beepl and a freelance journalist who has written for numerous publications, including TechCrunch, The Guardian, ZDNet, ReadWriteWeb and Macworld, and also wrote and directed the Silicon Valley documentary, In Search of the Valley. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

3 Responses to “Hulu to debut this month. Is it already too late?”

  1. G says:

    “Otherwise, as Sharpe said, “In 18 months it will be ‘Hulu what?’” – applies to everyone of the videos sharing sites out there.

    “Said Richard DeSilva, a partner at the venture firm Highland Capital Partners, “I don’t think the world needs another online video site. Why would you go to Hula.com versus Yahoo?””
    – Richard forgets to mention HCP portfolio – Metacafe and Gotuit both of which will be challenged – let’s see where they go in 18 months!!

    As for Hulu – unless they actually launch – no one will ever know.

  2. Marco says:

    Will Hulu’s content be available for non US residents? If yes, Hulu might have a reason to exist for those who can’t watch things on TV in the States; if not… I agree on the doubts

  3. David Mackey says:

    I welcome any additional competition to this market…till it matures.

Leave a Reply to David Mackey