Comments on: What does Hulu offer that YouTube doesn't?

That's the question executives at NBC Universal and News Corp. may be asking themselves, now that Google's popular video site has a foothold in Hollywood.

[Eludium-Q36]

If this, if that, yeh, yeh. YouTube has the reputation for hosting silly crap in two to five minute bites, and their keyword searches are so contaminated you don't know what you'll end up with if you search on any star's name or event. Hulu on the other hand is a far better put together site with the best tv/movie content available.

YouTube can only WISH they could be as worthy and successful in that space as Hulu is. And maybe someday they will, but it'll be counted in years, not weeks or months.

[yb_lah]

I agree. The YouTube experience is much different than the Hulu experience. Not saying one is better than the other, but YouTube has no credibility as a site capable of organizing content in an understandable fashion and delivering it in a quality stream. YouTube quality is garbage compared to Hulu.

[PhaseDMA]

Could only wish? YouTube doesn't run multi million dollar Super Bowl ads. Hulu does.

YouTube has 100 million users. Hulu doesn't even quite have 35 million.

Ya. I'm pretty sure YouTube is a lot more happy with their position then Hulu is.

[Spartan_458]

Not really. YouTube isn't making much money. Hulu is.

By the way, YouTube's video quality comes nowhere close to Hulu's. Watching 24 in the 480p mode on Hulu looks amazing for streaming video.

[oassaf]

You should also remember that Hulu is only available to those who reside in the US, YouTube is open to everyone on the planet. So think of it that way

[PhaseDMA]

Hulu isn't making money. At best it is preventing the loss of money by allowing people to watch (and continue watching) shows they would have otherwise missed.

As far as YouTube quality - I'm perfectly happy with the quality when people upload high quality videos.

Don't even try to tell me this doesn't look awesome - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

[ferricoxide]

I dunno: I can have the YouTube experience anywhere in the world. Hulu I can only access while in the US.

Whoever gets world broadcasting rights will be the winner of this one.

[paulsecic]

As of yesterday Youtube just had two classic shows as opposed to HULU'S hundreds. Youtube's player is paltry.

[PhaseDMA]

What makes YouTube's player "paltry"? It's a flash player for crying out loud. You have the progress bar. You have the full screen bar. You have the play and pause buttons. When you click full screen you get that exact same message you get from every flash player saying to hit esc to exit full screen. The thing is exactly the same.

YouTube may have two shows today, but what about tomorrow? Who do you think ABC and CBS want to put their shows on? Fox's and NBC's site, or a independent that I would bet would give them a much larger cut of profits?

Plus while I have not had issues with Hulu you pretty much know YouTube isn't going to fall on it's face. In general or for short amounts of time by crashing due to large amounts of traffic. YouTube isn't going anywhere. Period. Hulu on the other hand is a experiment I that I suspect is still losing money.

[ofmyony]

@phasedna

You must be joking about fullscreen on the You Tube player. It is paltry. It doesn't go completely fullscreen. It keeps that ugly bright progress bar at the bottom of the screen at all times. It maybe alright for 5 minute video but it's horrible for long form video.

Plus the video is not in fullscreen, It has black bars on both sides due to the fact that the progress bar always stays visible. The previous commentor was right, the You Tube player is paltry and is not as nice as Hulu.

I do like the HD video stream on You Tube, Hulu has removed it's HD content but I don't know why it was nice. The You Tube player itself compared to today's standards it is out of date. The quality of the stream is good for You Tube, so there is good and bad.

I am confident Google will redesign the player, it will not go over well with enthusiast.

[ofmyony]

@phasedma not phasedna, got in a rush ofmyowny

[arcadi_7609]

Actually it's more like what does does YouTube have that Hulu does not, specifically, the ability to play videos on my Wii. I love Hulu and Netflix, it's how I watch nearly all my television these days. However having the laptop hooked up to the TV means I don't get to use the laptop while I'm watching TV. I've been waiting for one of the online video providers to take advantage of all the folks out there want to use their Wii to watch streaming television and movies. With the probable exception of that Sony player, looks like YouTube may be that provider.

[toosday]

But will YouTube be able to play their premium content on the Wii? I'm not sure yet. I certainly hope so.

As it stands, the premium content is going to be more restricted than the user-generated content: Geo-restrictions; the premium videos won't be available outside of the U.S. So, wouldn't be surprised if the content owners put the same restrictions on YouTube that they do on Hulu - meaning putting their shows on you TV may not be allowed.

We're just waiting to see!

[slecalvez]

One big advantage of YuTube, at least at this moment, it's that Hulu is limited to the US (using IP Verification), while YouTube programms and oficial channels can be wacthed internationally.

[karpenterskids]

Hulu SHOULDN'T be limited just to the US.

If they were to lift the restrictions, and let people from third-world countries view the content as well, they'd probably make twice as much money off of the site!

[Tetrodotoxin]

I live in Canada and I can't even access Hulu even though we pretty much get 95% of American shows anyways. It's kind of silly.

[munkeybrains]

i like both. i don't have a tv, i just watch on my big giant computer monitor. this means i watched sarah connor chronicles online 24 hours after it aired. i like how all the different networks have reruns on their sites, but hulu (and/or youtube) makes it easier to find all my shows. i don't know which networks run which shows anymore. i think that could be a decent model for the future. i don't mind the commercials online, and i'm more apt to pay attention to them online than on network tv -- that's one reason i don't have cable, the commercials are unbearable. in my perfect world, we would have instant access to every movie, tv show, rerun, song, movie initial release (so i don't have to go to the movie theater and be subjected to rude patrons), any and everything on the planet that is put to media, the instant it becomes available. and i am willing to pay for it on demand, but i want to be able to find it in one place. "everything, right now" should be the business model.

[brazilian_sf]

iPhone. Hulu doesn't work on iPhone, while YouTube does. Also, YouTube works on Boxee, whereas Hulu blocked it. YouTube's open API allows people to embed it everywhere, pretty much without boundaries, unlike Hulu.

[yb_lah]

Just a note: software called "PlayOn" from a company called MediaMall allows you to watch Hulu on your tv via your xbox 360, Wii, or PS/3. The quality of this experience is very good. (near-HD) I find the organization of Hulu content to be exceptionally superior to other sites.

[mattumanu]

Youtube will find itself blocked from Boxee soon enough as soon as the content providers demand it.

[ferricoxide]

Of course, if you don't own a PC, you can't use PlayOn. Having to install a plugin on an external device/computer, when your network-enabled media extender ought to be able to run it natively, is kind of stupid.

I can play either service natively on my laptop. If I want to display it through my TV, I only need to hook the DVI-out from my Mac to my TV. I've no need to spend $40 for gimpy software that's *still* going to require slaving my computer.

[mordantennui]

Just a note, hulu is working on an iphone app just like Youtube's. This may just become my most used app!
Here's the article: http://gear.ign.com/articles/974/974099p1.html

[DarkCocoa]

Unless YouTube makes some major enhancements in the video quality department, I doubt that it will gain much ground against sites like Hulu. Hulu has good video quality but the HD stream on ABC's site is much better, especially when connected to a TV.
YouTube's organizational structure is horrible compared to Hulu. Hulu's is the best on the web and I don't think that YouTube would be able to make it as simple to find shows.

[zvonr]

"iPhone. Hulu doesn't work on iPhone, while YouTube does... "

makes me wonder why I did not start the youtube app on the iphone for more than a year...

All I care about is the content, you have content that interests me, I will watch it...

Since all the good content from youtube was banned due to copyright violations I started watching hulu and never looked back. Youtube for me right now is in the same category as break.com.

[mectron]

The major problems is tha media company have not yet understand that there is only ONE MARKET: EARTH. Piracy will always preveil as long at the big wigs don't understant that important concept.

Hulu is great and offerring what i want to watch, but i cannot use it, because it's illegally preventing from watching if i am out of the US. Where else can i go to see those great tv series?

[kieranmullen]

They are not doing anything illegal. Advertisers pay the bills. Perhaps when your part of the world is interested in purchasing US goods, then perhaps advertisers will want to spend money advertising products to you. Right now they don't, so no free tv.

[alphakjs]

I like Hulu because they provide closed-captioned content. I have a severe hearing loss, so closed-captioning really helps me. I don't think YouTube will ever provide closed-captioning on their shows. So for me, Hulu is the way to go. If YouTube ever provide closed-captioned content, then I *may* be persuaded to switch. I say *may* because Hulu might still be far more superior to YouTube in terms of picture quality, organization, etc.

[LuvThatCO2]

99.9% of the content on youtube is garbage. You can only see so many dancing dogs before youtube gets tired and old.

Hulu gves me what I really want out of a video - actual TV shows and movies.

[mattumanu]

The following comment was blocked by youtube when I tried to post it there. The users at youtube are not happy about this development at all. Here's why...


"...First of all, katotmottgogo, we're complaining because these companies are getting special privileges instead of doing this like the rest of us. If crackle wants to be on youtube they should start a channel just like everyone else, but instead they get to be instant youtube partners.

Second of all, the content they provide is being better handled at hulu. For instance, bewitched is on youtube "colorized" while hulu has the original black and white versions. Who wants to watch the adulterated versions of these things? The movie selection is basically the same as Hulu's selection, why would i want to watch these on Youtube when Hulu is a much better experience?

Third of all, youtube is going back on what it said in this very blog. The "Spotlighted" feature was supposed to take the place of the old "featured" videos section, but now spotlight is getting populated with paid partner content. I've discovered tons of great small shorts and series because of the old featured videos section, but now all of that is gone in favor of "charlie's angels" reruns.

As for whether youtube is losing money or not, you imply that youtube is going to start charging for hosting videos. So what? If it keeps this Hollywood bilge off the site that would be great.

Now, I'll be back to this blog post the minute I find one of these rerun hollywood tv shows in my email box or in the recommendations.

The fundamentals of youtube have changed forever. You say, "if your content is good then don't worry about it"... Well, lots of good content goes by unseen, and now youtube is actively hiding it..."

Youtube is an also ran. They have a reputation for carrying terrible content, and that reputation will do nothing to help them. Hulu has a great reputation thus far and they are profitable already. Nuff said.

[RickCriddle]

Can't watch YU2B TV Shows and Movies because I'm in Canada. Hulu doesn't block me. Yu2b sucks :(

[gefitz]

Question, though....isn't what's blocked in which company largely dictated by the content producers (IE, Sony, NBC) and not by the providers (youtube;hulu)?

I'd guess both companies would throw everything worldwide if they had their druthers, but the production companies want to control distribution more tightly.

[RickCriddle]

Opps! I just went back to HULU and now they're blocking Canadian visitors too. When did Canada become a third world country! So both HULU and YU2B suck now! :(

[BtmnHatesRbn]

Let's see...NBC and Fox own Hulu, while Google, the big neutral in the world (with a strong pro-Apple slant) owns YouTube. I see. It's about control. So NBC should change their name to NBC Orwellversal.

[ferricoxide]

Hulu's kinda hamstrung, though, because they can only make content available in the US. Really kinda sucks, given that I sometimes miss programming due to overseas travel. Really only leaves two options: miss my shows or resort to bit torrent.

[ddunhill-2009]

It's all about quality. Hulu has the best quality and reliable streaming. Hulu also uses Equinix for it's Datacenter and Connectivity. Equinix is a top rated Datacenter. The Hi-Def and reliable streaming makes Hulu's site the "Best in class". YouTube's quality looks amateur. As of now there is no comparison. Hulu rocks.

[YankeePoodle]

Youtube vs Hulu. Clutter vs Organized. Hulu also let the networks sell their rights to the programs overseas without having to worry. I live in US, and I like Hulu, just can watch Daily Show and The Office very next day. YouTube is a good for user produced content, but there is too many videos I dont want to waste my time on and searching. True there are hidden gems in youtube world, but quality is assured in Hulu world

[mariusthull]

At the moment, in my opinion, Hulu is much better than youtube. Not that I've used youtube much, I always thought it was just home video's people uploaded. Even though Hulu is better now you have to remember YouTube is owned by Google. That means money and resources for development. Hulu has a better layout and player now but google has the money, resources, and know-how to develop a new player or perfect the one youtube uses now. The people running Hulu better treat this announcement the way Wordperfect and Lotus should have treated the announcement that Microsoft was going to make a word processor and spreadsheet.

That being said I think this is a great announcement. Anything to free me from comcast is great. I am so sick and tired of having to rent a set top box from them just to get basic cable, it's BS is you ask me. I don't mind watching the commercials on Hulu, it pays for the show. I won't mind watching them on YouTube either. And if they want to make me wait a few days or a week to see the new shows that's fine by me too. The only thing I would ask is that they make a player that works for everyone, yeah I use linux. I'd love to see blockbuster and netflix get into the act too, and again with a linux friendly player.

Restricting content to certain countries is just plain shortsighted. All they would have to do is stream different commercials to different countries, that can be done the same way they are blocking it now. The entertainment companies would see their viewer numbers and ad revenue explode. A single commercial break and they could sell advertisement time in the US Canada the UK Ireland the list goes on. And I'd like to see some shows from the BBC and other countries. Who wouldn't like to see the original British versions of Hell's Kitchen and the Office?

Who needs a tivo or a comcast box that can record when all you have to do is click a link that lets you watch what you want when you want?

[Dr_Zinj]

Hulu and YouTube require advertising money to operate. All advertising is local if it is going to be effective. Does YouTube tailor their advertising frames to the country/location watching the video feeds? At least Hulu only has to deal with the U.S. for advertising purposes, at the moment.

[zimmecl]

Leaving YouTube out of it, I'm just thinking "What does Hulu offer?" Enticed by their ads, I went looking this weekend, and most of what I saw was a bunch of reality junk from cable networks -- no real solid content that I could easily get to. When I tried to watch an old episode of Battlestar Galactica, it bumped me to SciFi and I never could get the show to come up. How do you winnow out the junk and get to the good stuff? Where's 30 Rock? Where's the NBC series content? I don't want to search and sift through results - I can click through the program guide on cable and get better results, with lots of "free" OnDemand movies.