Hulu.. Lots of Hype, Not Too Hip

Hulu.com went live yesterday, amidst speculation that it may be the next YouTube. The video site is one of many offering clips from movies and tv shows free to consumers. But is it all it's cracked up to be? And should other video hosting sites like YouTube consider Hulu a threat? Probably not.

Hulu's main page touts access to ever popular shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy, but most of the site's clips are just that. Few are full-length shows, and those that are feature commercials. Granted, Hulu must have some way to pay for providing free service to so many, but even though subscribers can choose which commercials they want to view, the question remains... are there any commercials you're happy to watch?

The site allows keyword searches, but the best way to find something of interest is to browse through the tv and film listings. So far, the choices are limited, but are so to increase as time passes and the site gains exposure. There is a unique mix of old and newer releases, with movie titles ranging from Psycho to Waitress, and an apparent goal to reach out to a wide range of viewers.

On the tv side, clips range from auto shows to the Westminster dog show, to old favorites like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Facts of Life, to new and still-struggling shows like New Amsterdam. Hulu promotes its tv clips by touting that episodes of The Simpsons and The Office will be live on the site the morning after their telecast.

Hulu offers one advantage to subscribers that other similar sites lack: a queue. The queue serves as a holding place to store shows you want to watch later, or new episodes of your favorite shows. Users can subscribe to a particular show, and when new episodes are added to the site, they are automatically dropped into the user's queue.

There is speculation as to whether video sharing and hosting, a popular use for its so-called competitors, will be available on the site. Currently, Hulu offers user instructions on how to include links to clips on your own website, or email them to a friend, but their Terms of Service states that redistribution of their content is not allowed via email, fax or any other form of electronic transmission. Similarly, they do not accept unsolicited submissions, aka user created films. With video hosting being the most popular aspect of sites like YouTube, don't expect Hulu to replace them anytime soon.

One area of concern for parents is the site's lax way of moderating age-appropriate material. According to the site rules, users must be aged 13 or older. However, registration does not require a credit card or any other form of proof of age. Similarly, there are many titles most parents would not consider appropriate for young teen children, such as Quills, a film about the life of Marquis de Sade, or the popular tv show The Girls Next Door, about the live-in Playboy bunny girlfriends of Hugh Hefner.

Ironically, these clips are listed alongside specifically kid-oriented titles like The Veggie Tales and All Dogs Go To Heaven, despite the fact that most thirteen plus aged viewers aren't likely to be interested in these adolescent films.

Another disappointment is in the site's claim to make video available anywhere, anytime. At this time, they are only accessible in the United States, a fact that has many in foreign countries upset. Reportedly, international viewers can access the site, but when they try to click on a clip to play it, they get a pop-up message saying the content is not yet available in their area.

As for graphics quality, it is slightly better than its competitors. There is even a viewing option that dims the rest of the background on your pc to elicit a more theater type experience. Loading of clips takes approximately the same amount of time as other sites. Users should note that viewing of the clips requires Flash Player 8 or higher.

So, at least for now, YouTube can rest easy. Hulu may get some clicks because it's something new, but unless they find a target audience and figure out a way to appeal to them, they aren't going to be a threat to any video site.