Hulu 1350109 225761716 2008-07-15T07:58:02Z 85.180.72.169 {{for|the fruit also known as ''hulu''|calabash}} {{Infobox Dotcom company | company_name = Hulu, LLC | company_slogan = Watch your favorites. Anytime. For free. | owner = [[NBC Universal]] and [[News Corp]] | company_logo = [[Image:Hulu.svg|hulu.com logo|145px]] | company_type = Joint Venture | foundation = [[August 29]], [[2007]] | location_city = [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]] | location_country = U.S. | key_people = Jason Kilar, [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] | homepage = [http://www.hulu.com/ hulu.com] | screenshot = <!-- no image here causes a blank space bug at top of page --> | caption = | url = [http://hulu.com/ hulu.com] | registration = Optional | launch_date = [[March 12]], [[2008]] | current_status = active | language = | website_type = [[video on demand]] }} '''Hulu ''' is a website that offers free, high-quality [[streaming video]] of TV shows and movies, primarily from [[NBC]] and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]], as well as numerous cable networks, television studios, and movie studios. Hulu has [[online social networking]] features, allowing users to ''clip'' videos, or parts of videos, from the site for posting in outside online communities. (Hulu has incorrectly called this aspect ''[[video sharing]]'', though users cannot upload content.)<ref name="pr_launch"> {{cite press release |url=http://www.hulu.com/press/launch_press_release.html |work=[http://www.hulu.com/about/press_room Press Room] |publisher=Hulu |title=Hulu.com Opens to Public |accessdate=2008-03-28 |date=2007-03-12 }} </ref><ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.hulu.com/about/video_share |publisher=Hulu |title=Video Sharing |work=Product Tour |accessdate=2008-03-28 }} </ref> Hulu videos are currently offered only to users in the [[United States]].<ref> {{cite web |url=https://secure.hulu.com/signup |publisher=Hulu |title=Hulu.com Account signup page |accessdate=2008-04-03 }} </ref> Hulu provides video in [[Flash Video]] format in a higher resolution and bit-rate than [[YouTube]] and other streaming video on the web, but lower than [[standard-definition television]]<ref name='ew'/>, though some films are available in [[480p]]. For users, the service is free and ad-supported, with optional registration. Video downloading for offline viewing is not supported. Hulu also provides web syndication services for other websites including [[AOL]], [[MSN]], [[MySpace]], [[Yahoo!]], and [[Comcast]]'s Fancast.com. ==Content== ===Providers=== Hulu distributes video both on its own web site and syndicated to other sites.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120519822483125987.html?mod=technology_main_promo_left |title=Can Hulu Find Its Mojo With Viewers? |accessdate=2008-03-19 |date=2008-03-11 |author=Rebecca Dana and Emily Steel |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] }}</ref> In addition to NBC and FOX programs, Hulu carries shows from other networks such as [[Comedy Central]], [[PBS]], [[USA Network]], [[Bravo (television network)|Bravo]], [[Fuel TV]], [[FX (TV network)|FX]], [[SPEED Channel]], [[Sci Fi Channel (United States)|Sci Fi]], [[Style Network|Style]], [[Sundance Channel|Sundance]], [[E!]], [[G4 (TV channel)|G4]], [[Versus (TV channel)|Versus]] and [[Oxygen Channel|Oxygen]]. ===Television shows=== Hulu offers full episodes and segments from over 400 different TV shows, some no longer on the air, some in syndication, and many currently shown only in the United States. The TV content on Hulu is provided by NBC, Fox, and their TV production subsidiaries [[Universal Media Studios]] and [[20th Century Fox Television]], respectively, as well as the aforementioned cable networks, and other TV studios such as [[Sony Pictures Television]], [[Warner Bros. Television]], [[MGM Television]], and [[Lionsgate Television]]. Hulu allows users to share or edit these clips. Shows that get the most traffic on the site include ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'', ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'', ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]'', ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', ''[[American Dad!]]'', and ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]''. ===Movies=== Hulu offers over 100 motion pictures that range from classic to modern films. The movie content is provided by studios such as [[Universal Pictures]], [[20th Century Fox]], [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]], [[Lionsgate Entertainment]], and [[Sony Pictures]] among others. Viewers have criticized Hulu for censoring some content from films.<ref name="socialnext">[http://socialnext.typepad.com/socialnext/2007/10/hulu-censoring-.html Hulu Censoring Videos]</ref><ref name="adrants">[http://www.adrants.com/2007/10/hulu-may-be-the-last-sound-joost-ever-hea.php 'Hulu' May Be the Last Sound Joost Ever Hears]</ref> Hulu also offers [[Trailer (film)|trailer]]s for new and upcoming movies. ===Technology=== Hulu requires [[Adobe Flash]] 9 and is built on the live messaging capabilities of [[Ruby on Rails]].<ref>[http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/hulu-discusses-private-beta-suggests-public-launch-time-frame/ Hulu Discusses Private Beta, Suggests Public Launch Time Frame<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == History == The Hulu venture was announced in March 2007, with AOL, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo! planned as "initial distribution partners".<ref> {{cite press release |url=http://www.hulu.com/press/new_video_venture.html |title=NBC Universal and News Corp. Accounce New Online Video Venture |work=[http://www.hulu.com/about/press_room Press Room] |publisher=Hulu |accessdate=2008-03-28 |date=2007-03-22 }} </ref><ref name='foe'>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestreet.com/s/googles-still-on-top/newsanalysis/technet/10346071.html |title=Google's Still on Top |accessdate=2007-08-29 |date=2007-03-22 |author=Nat Worden |work=[[TheStreet.com]] }} </ref> [[Jason Kilar]], formerly of [[Amazon.com]], was named [[CEO]] in June.<ref> {{cite press release |url=http://www.hulu.com/press/jason_kilar_ceo.html |title=Jason Kilar Named Chief Executive Officer |work=[http://www.hulu.com/about/press_room Press Room] |publisher=Hulu |accessdate=2008-03-28 |date=2007-06-28 }} </ref> The name ''Hulu'' was chosen in late August, when the website went live, with an announcement only and no content. It invited users to leave their email addresses for the upcoming [[beta test]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestreet.com/s/googles-new-foe-hulu/newsanalysis/mediaentertainment/10376991.html |title=Google's New Foe: Hulu |accessdate=2007-08-29 |date=2007-08-29 |author=Nat Worden |work=[[TheStreet.com]] }} </ref> In October Hulu began the private beta testing by invitation, and allowed users to invite friends.<ref> {{cite press release |url=http://www.hulu.com/press/private_beta.html |title=Hulu Debuts Via Private Beta |work=[http://www.hulu.com/about/press_room Press Room] |publisher=Hulu |accessdate=2008-03-28 |date=2007-10-29 }} </ref> Hulu launched for public access in the [[United States]] on [[March 12]], [[2008]].<ref name="pr_launch"/> Hulu is a joint venture of [[NBC Universal]] and [[News Corp]], with funding by [[Providence Equity Partners]], which made a [[USD|USD$]]100 million [[ownership equity|equity investment]] and holds a 10% stake.<ref> {{cite news |url=http://www.cable360.net/competition/web/25376.html |title=NBC and Fox Jump Through Hulu Hoop |accessdate=2007-08-29 |date=2007-08-29 |author=Shirley Brady |work=Cable360.net }} </ref> The name ''Hulu'' comes from a [[Mandarin Chinese]] proverb, in which it means ''holder of precious things''.<ref name='ew'> {{cite news |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20185419,00.html |title=Hulu: Five Burning Questions |accessdate=2008-03-27 |date=2008-03-28 |author=Tim Stack |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] }} </ref> Literally, it refers (in Chinese) to the [[calabash]] gourd.<ref name="calabash"> {{cite web | url = http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Lagenaria.html | title = M.M.P.N.D. - Sorting Lagenaria names }} </ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.hulu.com Hulu Official website] [[Category:American websites]] [[Category:Internet properties established in 2007]] [[Category:Entertainment websites]] [[Category:Video hosting]] [[Category:Video on demand services]] [[Category:Web 2.0]] [[fr:Hulu]] [[it:Hulu]] [[nl:Hulu]] [[no:Hulu]] [[sv:Hulu]]