Hulu May Begin Charging for Content

Brennon Slattery Jun 4, 2009 8:53 am
Nothing free and awesome lasts forever. Case in point: Hulu.com. According to Jonathan Miller, News Corps.'s chief digital officer, Hulu may begin charging for some online content in the near future.
Hulu, which provides a collection of full TV episodes, movies, and video clips, currently is supported by its advertising revenue. But when asked whether or not Hulu will begin charging for content, Miller said that "the answer could be yes. I don't see why over time that shouldn't happen."
News Corp - parent of Fox - owns a sizable portion of Hulu, along with NBC Universal and Disney, so when someone like Miller says Hulu will probably charge for content, that means it is likely to come true. Miller does note, though, that his statements are his own opinion and not necessarily the Board's decree.
Given Hulu's monstrous rise in popularity, though, this news shouldn't come as a slap in the face to many people. After all, when a buck is out there to be made, companies like Fox are going to go for it. It's important to note that Miller's statements did not necessarily suggest the entire site would be pay-per-view, so that means certain programs may be exempt from the scheme. I'd expect most movies and TV shows that aren't on basic cable will fall under the subscription category.