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US TV on-demand provider, Hulu, has launched its subscription-based Hulu Plus, offering viewers whole series of their favourite programmes for $9.99 a month. Hulu Plus is designed to sit alongside and complement Hulu, the difference being the depth of content and price.
According to Hulu's CEO, Jason Kilar, for almost all the current broadcast shows Hulu offers, Hulu Plus will allow subscribers to watch every episode in the series. The service is intended to let viewers jump into a series at any time at their convenience.
Hulu Plus subscribers will also have the full run of all back seasons and some of TV's classic golden oldie shows, including: The XFiles, Ally McBeal, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Desperate Housewives and Greys Anatomy.
In a move into the mobile market, like the UK's BBC iPlayer, Hulu Plus subscribers will be able to watch shows on-the-go and through their regular TV in HD.
Subscribers who own a Samsung Internet-connected TV or Blu-ray player will be able to download a Hulu Plus application from Samsung's app store to stream shows directly to their TV without the need for messy wires connecting a TV to a computer.
The service is also available on standard laptops plus the Apple iPad via Wi-Fi and 3G. Users can even finish episodes they were watching on their iPad on their iPhone 3Gs, third generation iPod touch or iPhone 4 for extra mobility. The on-demand firm also recently announced it will be coming to Playstation 3 soon.
The subscription price is $9.99 but here's the rub: the service is only available to US users and despite paying for the service; viewers will still have to endure adverts.
However, Hulu maintains advertisers help is needed to keep the subscription price so low. It believes it offers ‘the most convenient way' for users to access their favorite shows on a host of devices in HD, while content partners will be properly compensated for producing the shows.
