Welcoming more Beta testers
November 9th, 2007
Today, a bit over a week after we first opened the doors of Hulu.com,
we're sending out thousands more invites to users on our sign-up list.
It has been an exciting eleven days for us, given the level of interest in Hulu that we've received. We are thrilled to see that so many people are eager to test the Hulu service.
For those using the service, we've made it even easier to provide feedback. Included at the bottom of every page inside Hulu.com's website, you'll find a small feedback form that let's you submit a comment, suggestion or bug. Just click on the feedback link, type your feedback and submit. Additionally, you always have the option of emailing us at feedback@hulu.com. Your feedback is valuable in shaping the Hulu service as we improve and update the site during our private beta.
One of the questions that we've been asked many times the past week is if the service will be available outside the United States. Today, the service is a U.S. service only. That said, our intention is to make Hulu's growing content lineup available worldwide. Given that this requires clearing the rights for each show or film in each specific geography, it will take time. In no uncertain terms, the Hulu team is committed to making great programming available across the globe. I've been very encouraged by how many content providers have already been working along these lines so that their programs can be available over the internet to a much larger, global audience. There's a lot of important work still to be done.
We also recognize that a free, streaming online video service is just the first step in our mission to deliver premium content when, where and how you want it. We won't stop innovating in the pursuit of this mission.
We'll keep you updated on our progress throughout the beta on this team blog. Thank you for all the feedback shared so far. More to come from this side.
Jason
Jason Kilar
CEO, Hulu
jason.kilar@hulu.com
For those using the service, we've made it even easier to provide feedback. Included at the bottom of every page inside Hulu.com's website, you'll find a small feedback form that let's you submit a comment, suggestion or bug. Just click on the feedback link, type your feedback and submit. Additionally, you always have the option of emailing us at feedback@hulu.com. Your feedback is valuable in shaping the Hulu service as we improve and update the site during our private beta.
One of the questions that we've been asked many times the past week is if the service will be available outside the United States. Today, the service is a U.S. service only. That said, our intention is to make Hulu's growing content lineup available worldwide. Given that this requires clearing the rights for each show or film in each specific geography, it will take time. In no uncertain terms, the Hulu team is committed to making great programming available across the globe. I've been very encouraged by how many content providers have already been working along these lines so that their programs can be available over the internet to a much larger, global audience. There's a lot of important work still to be done.
We also recognize that a free, streaming online video service is just the first step in our mission to deliver premium content when, where and how you want it. We won't stop innovating in the pursuit of this mission.
We'll keep you updated on our progress throughout the beta on this team blog. Thank you for all the feedback shared so far. More to come from this side.
Jason
Jason Kilar
CEO, Hulu
jason.kilar@hulu.com
Posted by jason
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November 10th, 2007 at 12:09 AM First off, very nice v.1 delivery system Jason, glad to see the critics take note. Your team has done a great job. If you ever move to a desktop app for offline viewing (easier said than done), I'd recommend talking to the Adobe AIR team....that is if you're not already. :-) Cheers!
November 10th, 2007 at 12:10 AM Hello! i just wanted to day that i can't wait to receive my invitation!! Great work *
November 10th, 2007 at 12:54 AM I'm one of the beta users that got his password today, however the system won't let me log in. You guys should have a way to let users let you know the beta accounts aren't working, so far I only found this blog to be able to talk back. Good luck, you have a big challenge and a lot of competition, but content is on your side, you got the damn best content.
November 10th, 2007 at 10:04 AM I'm a big tv and movie fan and find this to be a tremendous new addition. Just provided my email moments ago and can't wait to get a user id & password. Thanks for developing this. The old stereo-typical way of tv networks and watching will be gone. Time-shifting, viewing on computers (while multi-tasking), and viewing at the consumers leisure - definitely the way the media will have to go. Thanks again.
November 10th, 2007 at 11:13 AM Hi, i'm one of your beta testers from China, and i am so glad to see the great work you have done. not only the name "Hulu" is my favourite, but also i'm a fan of online video. as i'm in China, I can not able to see your videos now, but i hope this will be no longer a problem in a short time. Congratulations!
November 10th, 2007 at 12:39 PM Hi! I'm waiting for your invitation, but I've tried to watcht his video and I can't!!! "this video is not available in your country"...Doesn't hulu work in Spain? Ohh... :(
November 10th, 2007 at 05:41 PM Jason -- the site looks fantastic -- clean and simple, but still with all the bells and whistles and person would want, all seemingly presented at the right place and the right time. I'm extremely impressed with the innovative use of ad placements (the 7 second teaser... and even the in-video placements), the quality of the content (of course, the shows are great, but the streaming's been fantastic and that's a big part of it). Kudos to the entire team -- know you've all been pushing incredibly hard, but great things take incredible efforts. You all should be very proud. Dave
November 10th, 2007 at 08:48 PM Hey, Psyched about the new site. Trying to watch videos, but every time I launch the player it loads and then tells me the video is unavailable at this time. Whats the deal?
November 11th, 2007 at 10:33 PM I like the work you doing, Very nice! Still waiting for invitation, but hoping i get it should, I want to see more!
November 12th, 2007 at 12:07 AM Great site, clean, and apparently easy to use can not wait for my invite keep up the good work.
November 13th, 2007 at 02:36 AM Okie dokie guys, I've posted four episodes of Arrested Development on my blog. Why do I feel like I'm stealing? I'm sorta pinching myself over this whole Hulu Hullabaloo.
November 13th, 2007 at 03:33 AM Same here, "Video is unavailable at this time". Maybe it's my firewall at the office, I'll try again when I get home. Still, you guys really nailed this - the glitches will work themselves out, but the interface and depth of content really blew me away. Would love to see this on my XBox via the Media Center Extender capabilities, btw... :)
November 13th, 2007 at 07:24 AM This site looks like an exceptional step toward the full mainstreaming of online media. Under normal circumstances I'd be chopping at the bit for a beta invite, unfortunately until the WGA strike has concluded to include payments for technology like this, I won't be using it and I'll be encouraging others to do the same. It's a disappointment, but a necessity.
November 13th, 2007 at 08:40 AM While I am very excited for such a website to be launched, I wanted to write that I will not be enjoying the fruits of your labor until the end of the WGA strikes and the beginning of the studio's responsibility of treating the creative team behind all the wonderful shows you are sharing with us with respect and their fair share of the profits. It is my hope that you pass along that message to the powers that be over at NBC, FOX, etc. and that they will come back to the tables with the WGA and find a resolution to make us all happy and back at work.
November 13th, 2007 at 03:13 PM I was really looking forward to this, but I can not use this site until the writers and actors are compensated for their work here. I am supporting the WGA strike and will not be watching or downloading TV shows or movies from the internet or buying DVDs until they have a fair contract.
November 13th, 2007 at 04:15 PM Wow, this service is great and revolutionary, and there are so many promotions to choose from! I'm glad the writers & producers are so willing to provide all this content to us-absolutely free! Awesome.
November 13th, 2007 at 07:22 PM I look for your invite in my email every day. I can't wait to experience your website. Kudos on a great idea.
November 14th, 2007 at 01:05 AM hey this looks really amazing. very easy to access and what not. nicely done! however, being that i live in morocco its looking like i've come across yet another site that will not let me view the content. hopefully that will change here soon though! thanks for your efforts in making this stuff available for those of us living abroad. its much appreciated! (and i can't wait to watch the new episodes of the office!)
November 14th, 2007 at 04:02 AM Hi there! Just a quick question: I live in Hong Kong for the moment and I would have wanted (badly) to watch videos on your website...which is apparently not possible "Unfortunately this video is not currently available in your country or region". My question: will it ever be available? Or should I wait for the DVDs to come out....in many many months from now? Thanks
November 14th, 2007 at 05:36 PM Hi! (I'm German.) And I want to say that you schould translate the text into German. So more people can understand the text and so more people will go at your site "hulu.com" (mainly German). Also I wanna say, if I click on the trailer or movie "Treehous of Horror XVIII" the massage:"Unfortunately this video is not currently available in your country or region. We apologize for the inconvenience." appears. But anyway it's a grat site and I hope that no more problems comes when I got the invitation. MfG = German Max
November 15th, 2007 at 04:41 AM Hey! Great site. Really smooth interface, very easy to enjoy the video. I'm so glad this will happen now that Scrubs is off iTunes! (consider me for beta, please)
November 15th, 2007 at 04:48 AM I've been waiting for this site since I've heard about it. The site is very inviting and the video loads quickly, a definite plus. The beta is testing out great and everything that I've click on is running smoothly. Keep up the good work.
November 15th, 2007 at 08:20 AM people outside usa cant watch anything... NOTHING is watchable outside USA, wow great website, after waiting all this time for hulu to start i am shocked that i cant watch anything!! this is the INTERNET, whats wrong with you people why dont you announce that HULU is a LOCAL website then ...
November 17th, 2007 at 10:25 PM Will it really be as smooth as it was watching the sample shows? I sure hope so, i try to watch shows on other sites...CBS and NBC to name a couple. I must say i was beginning to think it was my computer as to why the shows were choppy and annoying to watch. But yours seems almost too good to be true! Such a simple way to watch a show, simply wonderful!!
November 18th, 2007 at 06:25 AM Sitting in front of my computer looking at some small region of a browser window doesn't cut it. iTunes with Front Row was great; this is just awful. I don't think you understand the difference between TV and YouTube. I don't think you realize how we want to watch television.
November 19th, 2007 at 09:01 PM Will any current news be included? That would be nice to watch while answering my email.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:03 AM Add me to the list of folks that got an invite but Hulu won't let me log in with my email address and temp pass word. I've sent feedback to the feedback address listed in the original email. Please let me know if I should have replied directly to the email. Gotta say I'm a bit bummed considering I waited all day to get home...only to be denied. :(
November 21st, 2007 at 03:59 AM I dont understand this concept. Why would people watch a tv show on a small corner of their computer screen. People want to download content to keep and watch at their convenience wherever they want like Apple allows. This kind of thing is ok to watch videos of dogs playing on a trampoline on youtube but it doesnt cut it to watch real movies and tv shows.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:27 PM I'm currently watching the Simpsons episode at work. While our connection is good enough for business, streaming video (ex. Youtube) tends to bog it down. Not a single hitch with your service, I'm impressed. Can't wait to get my beta invite.
November 22nd, 2007 at 07:48 PM Okay as I watched a couple of the videos here on Hulu they look like something I could see on Youtube. They are grainy and choppy at times. And as for the statement "Anytime Anywhere" that's not a true statement I would have to have an internet connection and a laptop! At least with iTunes I can watch they "Anytime Anywhere" and in any county and don't need an internet connection!
November 25th, 2007 at 08:58 PM After enjoying all the Alfred Hitchcock Presents—even the short commercials are endurable—I have no doubt hulu will be a huge success. Kudos, Jason and Team. Hulu will grow in many directions, clearly change the way we view TV and video and be a verb worldwide.