This is just one of the many apps that has been released for Windows Phone 8 over the past few months, with some of the bigger mobile apps still waiting for their turn for Windows Phone 8 support. Either way, Hulu subscribers who pay for the $8/month plan will be able to enjoy streaming on their WP8 devices now.

As for the layout of the app, Hulu went with the traditional Windows Phone 8 layout rather than their own concoction, and firing up the app will lead to the home screen where you can scroll through TV shows — very similar to other Windows Phone 8 apps, and the look should be reminiscent of the Hulu app on Windows 8.

Some of the more popular apps and games that have landed on Windows Phone 8 include Pandora, Spotify, Microsoft’s own Photosynth, Modern Combat 4, and Netflix, which arrived on Microsoft’s new platform last month. We can only assume this is Hulu’s answer to Netflix as a way to earn more subscribers by offering Windows Phone 8 support.

Hulu has seen its paid subscriber base exponentially grow since Q4 2010, when at the time it had around only 250,000 Hulu Plus subscribers. As for mobile viewing, Hulu says it’s “growing at a significant rate,” and they predict that it will account for around 15% of Hulu’s consumed videos this next year.

Another big step for Hulu is the announcement of two new original series, which the company hopes will allow them to compete more with Netflix and Amazon. Hulu announced Quick Draw and East Los High. Quick Draw is a comedy set in the western style in 1875, and the story revolves around a sheriff who wants to introduce the science of forensics to an unruly Kansas town.

As for East Los High, Hulu that it’s “not your typical high school,” but we have a slight feeling that it may be just that. The show follows around a group of teens as they explore romance and mystery. Sounds familiar, right? Release dates for the these two shows have not been announced yet, but we’ll see them premiere at some point this summer.

The service costs $9.99 a month to use, which is higher than other video-streaming services, but you are given a 2 week free trial to test it out. You are given a selection of classic TV shows and movies like the original Jericho, Bad Day at Black Rock, Superman and more. The selection is quite small right now, however Warner Bros promises to add a lot more content soon, while also switching out some of its current content.

Right now, only some TV shows and movies are available in 1080p streaming, and you will only be able to watch the videos in 1080p if you have a Roku set-top box. PC and Mac users will not be able to watch either 720p or 1080p videos yet, however the features should be added in the future. Warner Bros also says that 1080p streaming should be coming to more connected devices in the future.

If you’re a classic movie buff, this new streaming service will be a Godsend for you. There are movies and TV shows from Warner Bros, MGM, RKO, and Allied Artists, that should bring to you the nostalgia of the old (very old) days. Warner Archive is very unique, but it will most likely have a hard time appealing to the majority of consumers, most of who are fine with Netflix and its modern selection of media.

[via Warner Archives]

Shatner played the infamous Captain James T. Kirk in several Star Trek films and TV series, and while Shatner has become more of an odd character nowadays (now known as the “Priceline negotiator” in those weird hotel booking commercials), he’ll leave behind a legacy for Star Trek fans to remember forever.

Five Star Trek television series are available on Hulu, all of which will be free until the end of the month: Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Enterprise. All of these shows are available now to watch at no cost.

UPDATE: We’ve been informed that Star Trek: The Animated Series is missing out of the bunch, as well as “The Cage,” which is the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series.

As an extension of the festivities, Star Trek will be conducting a poll to see which episodes they’ll feature on the Hulu home page, and they’ll also be holding a “Star Trek Madness” tournament, putting all of the major Star Trek characters up against each other to see who is the most popular Star Trek character of them all.

The first thing you’ll most likely notice in the redesigned app is the new content categories that are spread out along the top of the app, making it easier to jump to a specific section. Inside each category, you’ll be greeted with various other subcategories of sorts, one of which is a section detailing new shows, as well as new episodes for the shows that you already watch.

The “Shows You Watch” tray allows you to jump right in to any show that you want to watch, and Hulu says that this is to make sure users never miss a new episode or lose their place in a television series. Another new feature is the ability to quickly turn on subtitles by holding down the “Select” button while watching a show.

One caveat is that you must be running the latest Apple TV firmware, so if you’re not up-to-date and are wanting to take advantage of the new Hulu Plus layout, now would be a great time to head into Software Updates in Settings and get on the latest software version of Apple TV. From there, you can just boot up the Hulu Plus app to experience the redesign.

Criterion announced the news via Twitter today as what we’re guessing is their own Valentine’s Weekend promotion. That would certainly make sense, since you’ll be able to sit down with your sweetheart and watch some classic cinema right from your couch while you pour over some wine and maybe even some popcorn for the full effect.

There’s a ton of these movies available on Hulu, so it may be difficult to know where to even start, but Hulu gets you on the right track by showing off the most popular titles, as well as recommended films. They even split up movies into different categories to hopefully guide you to the films that you’ll enjoy the most.

Criterion themselves recommend starting with Breathless, a 1960 film by Jean-Luc Godard about a young car thief that kills a policeman and tries to persuade a girl to hide in Italy with him. If you don’t have any plans this weekend, this might be the perfect time to check out a handful of Criterion films. Granted, you definitely won’t get through all of them over the weekend, but at least you can get a good start for now.

Netflix’s new original series House of Cards is debuting this weekend, and it seems Netflix wants as many users as it can get to watch the new show, even if it means unlocking access on Xbox Live. Plus, all episodes of the new show will be available for streaming, so clear all your weekend plans and make sure to tune in if you’re interested.

Furthermore, Hulu’s AdZone on Xbox Live will be completely free this weekend using the Internet Explorer app, as long as you have a Xbox Live Gold membership (you’ll need it to access IE). Since it’s Super Bowl weekend specifically, Hulu is letting users access the Hulu AdZone in order to watch all the commercials from this year’s Super Bowl, as well as commercials from as far back as 2008 that aired during the big game.

Again, both Netflix and Hulu’s AdZone (not Hulu Plus) will be available for free. You’ll still need a separate Netflix subscription in order to access the service, but Hulu AdZone will be completely free (even if you don’t have a Hulu Plus subscription) for Xbox Live Gold members. Happy watching!

It gets even better for Hulu though, as it reports that Hulu Plus now has 3 million paying subscribers. The number of Hulu Plus subscribers doubled in the past year, as it was sitting below 1.5 million when 2011 came to a close. Hulu Plus grew steadily throughout the year, receiving its biggest boost in quarter one. We can probably expect a similar jump in Q1 2013, as many people will have just received a new device capable of playing Hulu’s videos.

It was also a big year for content, as Hulu says it grew offered content by 40% during 2012. That’s pretty aggressive growth, with Hulu now working with 430 content partners – those are partnerships that have put 60,000 TV episodes from 2,300 series on the streaming service. In 2012 alone, Hulu paid $500 million to make new content available, and since launching back in October 2007, it has paid out more than $1 billion to its partners.

All things considered, 2012 sounds like it was an excellent year for Hulu. It’s only getting more popular as time goes on, though it still has a ways to go before it can challenge Netflix for streaming domination. We’re looking forward to seeing what Hulu does in 2013, and if it’s as big as 2012 was, then it should be another excellent year.

The service known as PlayOn collects 45 different brands together into one big batch, adding not just service like HBO Go and Amazon VOD to your television set through your Wii U, but your own videos from your Windows PC as well. Have a peek at the chart below to see the vast selection of connections you’ll be working with right out of the box – and note that the four selections in the upper left-hand corner are already on Wii U as their own app – daunting!

The PlayOn ecosystem is available with a one-time lifetime license cost of $39.99 – one time and you’re hooked up forever. Just like a real software build should be. Once you’re good to go, you’ll find that all of the services above are available to you on your Wii U as well as Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the original Wii as well! There’s also a massive amount of other devices that the PlayOn interface works with, and you can work with DLNA-compliant devices galore, too – have a peek at the full device list for compatibility – you’ll find the iPad, iPhone, Android phones with OS 2.2 and up, Google TV, and Roku appearing there as well.

The Wii U GamePad remote allows you to use your touchscreen controls to make selections and you’re able to watch videos on either your Gamepad or your TV. You can watch Hulu for free on your television (the free version) without a Hulu+ subscription where otherwise you’d not have been able to, but of course you’ll need a Netflix subscription to get on the Netflix train, and Amazon video needs the necessary costs to be the boss, too – but with all the rest of the massive amount of channels you’ve got here, you’ll have more than enough free video to go around!

The Wii U support page has gone live today – note that you will need a Windows PC or a Mac running some form of Windows virtualization to get this party started. Get that video right this minute!

The folks at Squrl have a search engine for instantly playable videos from YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Ted (aka Ted Talks), AOL, Vimeo, Blip.TV, and more. This list is expanding in Squrl, and the app works just as well on the iPhone 5 as it does on the iPad – and the iPhone 4S/4, the iPod touch, and the rest, too, of course. You can make your own profile and share your favorite videos if you want, or you can remain entirely anonymous.

You can add your own feed collections or you can use the app purely for search. Add the Android feed and you’ll find our favorite sister-site Android Community featured prominently – but you want to stick to Apple, right? There’s an Apple feed as well. You can connect to your Facebook to show an interest graph for yourself over time, this generating suggestions from the app itself as it gets to know you better. It’s one of those things that seems a bit creepy to some people and quite magical to others – I tend to lean towards the latter.

You’ll want to check out the competition in Flixter and Dijit, Showyou and every other app just like this one if you want o judge the best user interface experience for yourself, but the end result right this minute will be thus: Squrl is fresh, it works, it feels nice to use, and it’s free. This app is up on the iTunes App Store right this minute and you can hit up Squrl.com to see if they plan on releasing any Android-based solutions in the near future – or Windows Phone, for that matter too.

Be sure to head down to our iOS App Reviews portal for more of the best for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch from all angles. Games, utilities, oddities, and everything in-between – have at em!

There’s also the functionality to stream Hulu Plus content directly to the GamePad, meaning that even if you’re roaming around the house, you should still be able to watch. A button in the lower right corner of the screen flips playback between the GamePad and the TV.

Hulu has also taken the opportunity of Wii U functionality to launch its new Hulu Kids section, with over 43 shows – including some from Nickelodeon – with no commercials. Adults get content from ABD, Comedy Central, NBC, and other networks.

There’s a free week’s trial for Hulu Plus on Wii U, and after that it’s priced at $7.99 “with limited advertising.” Unfortunately there’s no way to access the free, more ad-heavy basic Hulu service on the Wii U.

Probably the best thing about Hulu Kids is that all the shows are completely ad-free, despite the fact that regular shows still show commercials even with paid subscriptions. Hulu wanted kids to be uninterrupted while watching their favorite shows, so nixing all ads was crucial for a kids-only section.

Hulu Kids features a bevy of kids shows, and there’s even different categories for different types of shows. For example, “Dino Time” features shows like “Barney” and “Dinosaur Train,” and the category “Cartoon Favorites” offers shows like “Arthur” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles“. You can also browse shows by network, like Nickelodeon and PBS.

Hulu Kids is also coming to the PlayStation 3, where the whole family will be able to enjoy modern children shows as well as the classics that you watched growing up, all right from the living room. Of course PS3 users will still need a Hulu Plus subscription in order to get Hulu Kids. If you’re not yet a subscriber, Hulu offers a free 7-day trial.

The deal between CBS and Hulu will bring more than 2,600 episodes of various programming from CBS over to Hulu Plus starting in January. Of course, newer episodes will be available for regular Hulu users who don’t have a Hulu Plus subscription, but much of the back catalog will only be available for paying customers.

Also, not only will modern CBS shows be available to watch (like CSI: Miami and Numb3rs), but classics such as Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, and I Love Lucy will also become available. The deal between Hulu and CBS spans multiple years, but it’s non-exclusive, which means CBS shows will still be available on Netflix as well.

It’s good to finally see all four major networks on board with Hulu. NBC and Fox were originally the only networks streaming their shows over Hulu, but ABC joined in on the fun in 2009. Finally, three years later, CBS is now a part of the Hulu family, and users will be able to browse even more shows starting in January.

The Hulu Plus app will come pre-loaded on a selection of Acer and Sony tablets, and will also be available to download through the Windows Store onto any Windows 8 machine. Hulu implemented some of Microsoft’s own flavor of Windows 8 into the Hulu Plus app, and works seamlessly on tablets as well.

The app uses a tile-based UI that’s similar to the new UI featured in Windows 8. Hulu says the clean and simple user interface allows them to put “the most relevant content first, creating a visually immersive experience in the most engaging way.” We can’t argue with them really, since the UI actually does look pretty good.

A nifty feature of the new is the ability to do many actions right from the main screen, like share content with friends. If you tap an image and slide it down and then up, a menu of options will appear. This will let you share the show, add it to your queue, or just the play the show right away. You can also “pin” shows, which gives yo access to any pinned shows right from the home screen. They’ve also added “Snap View,” which allows you to watch a show in a small screen while using another app in the foreground.

In order to use the Hulu Plus app on not just Windows 8 machines, but any device, you’ll need a Hulu Plus subscription, which costs $7.99 per month.

The buyout was announced in April of this year, and last month, a leaked Hulu memo showed that the company was setting up contingency plans in the event that CEO Jason Kilar would leave his position shortly after it happened, reading: “Outline transition plan for new CEO. Discuss potential candidates and process.” Kilar is now free to cash in on his shares, which, according to an inside source, would gain him about $100 million. Hulu has not offered a statement on the leaked memo.

Back in August, a source said that the Hulu board was in talks with CEO Kilar about his plans, but that nothing had come from it thus far. At the time, no one had been approached to replace Kilar, and a search committee had not been formed. Whether any of this has changed since then is unknown. Some speculate that Kilar may leave due to the altercations he has had with the board, which has always been a tumultuous relationship.

Hulu’s future is unknown. Some speculate that the exclusive content currently on Hulu by its three major broadcast companies (NBC, Fox, and Disney) could come to an end soon, as the companies seek to increase profits by licensing the content to more than one distributor. With Hulu’s revenue already tottering along in the “moderate” range, such a change could harm the company, throwing it into a downward spiral as the number of shows available decreases, and the wait time for access to the ones that remain potentially lengthen to longer than next-day availability.

[via Tech Crunch]

Nickelodeon shows destined for Hulu include “Spongebob Squarepants,” “iCarly,” and “Big Time Rush.” Unfortunately for those with younger kids, the deal doesn’t include any Nick Jr. shows like “Max and Ruby.” This may be due to licensing issues that would arise, given that several of the shows are currently licensed for other video providers, including Amazon.

Recently, Viacom has been criticized for offering content online and via Netflix, with some claiming that by doing so, the network is shooting its TV ratings in the proverbial foot. In addition, Hulu is apparently in for some major changes, with an alleged leaked internal memo that reads: “Outline transition plan for new CEO. Discuss potential candidates and process.” Fortunately, Hulu’s seemingly uncertain future hasn’t affected its relationship with Viacom.

Hulu is owned by NBCUniversal, Fox, and Disney-ABC. It offers content from its own networks, as well as content from CBS and Nickelodeon, to name a few. Viewers can watch clips and many episodes online for free, with access to premium content available via a Hulu Plus subscription.

[via All Things D]

According to their latest survey, 45% of Americans are using their televisions as their primary display for watching online video content, while only 31% said they primarily used their computers to watch online videos. It’s almost a scary statistic if you know that just last year, 48% primarily used computers for online videos while just 33% used televisions.

However, it’s also not too surprising. The growth of different set-top boxes has led to a new revolution when watching online streaming content. Many companies have their own solutions, including Roku, Boxee, Google, and even Apple. Hard drive manufacturers like Western Digital and Seagate also have set-top boxes of their own.

What’s also unsurprising, is that Netflix came out on top as far as the most-used service for watching online content on the television. 40% of consumers use Netflix, while 12% use Hulu Plus, and 4% connect to Vudu. What about you? Have you made the transition to watching online video in the living room instead of on the computer?

[via BGR]

Back in June Netflix had a lawsuit tossed against them regarding not offering CC, which ended in their favor, although this has nothing to do with that but they could be avoiding it. Earlier this week all three of the apps mentioned, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, and Max Go received updates for iOS which brought closed caption support, and today Android is getting the same.

Those moments where you don’t have headphones, or are in public and would rather have the volume down and use CC this will really come in handy. It isn’t a major improvement, but something I’ve been waiting to come to HBO GO for months and months — well that and tablet support on Android.

Hulu specifically mentions that a few languages are available other than English, but the others make no mention of that, nor did we find the option in settings. Hulu also added Facebook integration where users can share what their viewing (links, not the content) and a few other new features but sadly no rewind capability like iOS received. Obviously to truly enjoy any of these options on Android or iOS you’ll need a subscription to each individual service, but we welcome any and all new features. Get ready to enjoy Boardwalk Empire and more with CC. Personally I’m a Dexter fan.

[via AndroidCommunity]

This app has you log in once and does not require an account to use, but you’ll benefit from having one. You’ll select from local TV listings with your ZIP code, iTunes, Netflix, and Hulu Plus. When you’ve made your selections, you’ll have a fully-activated set of panels that show you what’s on currently in each of your choices and what will be on soon as well – recommendations come for Netflix as well depending on what’s new. Once you’ve found the program you want, tap it.

Once you’re inside a listing for a show or movie you’re interested in, you’ll get a ton of information on the program as well as the actors in it – connections between shows exist as well, and sharing pops up all across the interface. If you find an episode of a show you want to see, or a movie you’ve been meaning to view, you have only to hit the “watch now” button to make it happen. Depending on the availability of the media, you’ll have the option of going to Netflix, Hulu Plus, the iTunes store, and hopefully more in the near future.

At the moment you’re essentially stuck with just Netflix and Hulu Plus, but we’re expecting that such choice services as HBO Go and Crackle will appear sooner than later. You can pick NextGuide up from the iTunes app store right this minute for free – it’s worth a tap or two if you’ve got Netflix or just want a snappy looking TV guide sort of situation – and don’t already use TV Guide, of course.

Apparently Hulu’s CEO woes are brought on by the buyout of one of its investors, Providence Equity Partners. That buyout is expected to close sometime next month, and when it does, Variety says that “any Hulu executive with a significant number of vested shares” will be able to cash out. Hulu CEO Jason Kilar obviously has a lot of shares, and stands to make as much as $100 million in the event that the Providence deal closes successfully. That significant sum has Hulu worried he may take his $100 million and resign from the company.

Despite the worries, sources say Hulu isn’t searching for a new CEO just yet. Apparently Hulu board members have been talking to Kilar about his future with the company first, but so far those talks have been “without resolution.” This Providence buyout could bring more problems aside from having to search for a new CEO, however, as the memo also signals an incoming change in Hulu’s licensing agreements. It may not be long before News Corp. and Disney pare back their next-day offerings in an attempt to bring more visitors to their own websites, for instance.

Also a possibility is the end of exclusive content on Hulu. It’s suggested that these upcoming changes – or at least the possibility of them – might help convince Kilar to exit the company, but at the moment, all we have is this memo and Variety’s sources to go on. We won’t know what sweeping changes this Providence buyout brings with it until the purchase is officially on the books, but if these rumors are true, get ready for a pretty big shakeup at Hulu’s offices.

Apple, so the rumors go, had put the Hulu Plus Apple TV app on ice over concerns that it could bite into its own iTunes revenue. The delay was not said to be a technical one, with all elements of software and service ready for action, with Apple instead suspecting that Hulu Plus subscribers might be less likely to spend money renting or purchasing movies from its own download store.

Muddying the waters were Hulu Plus’ existing iOS apps, available on the iPad and iPhone, and which already offered access to the subscription based streaming media service. At the time it was suspected that the absence of AirPlay streaming support for the apps that was all that had prevented Apple from denying its a place in the App Store; users would simply be too lazy to plug in an HDMI cable and adapter.

Availability on the Apple TV, however, makes opting for Hulu Plus rather than iTunes far more straightforward. Hulu hasn’t mentioned the delay in its blog post on the new functionality, and Apple was apparently content to push it out without fanfare.

Apple TV has seen a sales boom in its third-generation, though Apple itself still refers to the set-top box as a hobby among its range. The company has seen long-standing rumors suggesting it is working on a full television set as part of a more forceful challenge to the living room.

Apple reportedly began rolling out the app this morning, although users may need to reboot their Apple TV before they see the app appear. The app seems to work as advertised, streaming television shows from networks such as Fox and NBC as long as you subscribe to the Plus service, which currently costs $7.99 a month.

Hulu Plus has been available on a multitude of hardware devices for some time, including consoles, and users also have the option of streaming shows through their web browser. The app finally arriving on the Apple TV makes for a compelling argument for the little streamer given its $99 price. Combine Hulu Plus with a Netflix subscription and Apple’s own access to paid movies and TV shows, and suddenly you have an inexpensive and practical way to cut the cord.

Users are also reporting that Hulu Plus can be billed straight to an Apple iTunes account. New users will be able to sign up directly from the Apple TV and given a week’s free trial, and after that they’ll be charged $7.99 a month to access Hulu’s library of TV shows.

[via MacRumors]

Because of that, I spend an awful lot of time evaluating different entertainment opportunities. From Netflix to Hulu Plus to iTunes, I’m always out there examining what’s best and what might need some work.

For a long time, I truly believed that Netflix was the best entertainment option available to me. The platform had all kinds of movies and television shows, and it was cheap. Netflix was, for a while, the best living room entertainment option we had.

But now, I’m starting to move away from that. Netflix’s content library is on the decline, and I’m finding myself watching programming on Hulu Plus and HBO Go far more often. To me, those two services are delivering the very best in living room entertainment.

How, you might ask? Simple: top-notch content.

Let’s start with Hulu Plus. Although the commercials can be annoying, the sheer amount of content on the service is delectable. I can watch some of the latest episodes of television shows I might have missed, as well as check out some older films that, in some cases, really aren’t too bad. Granted, Hulu Plus has its limitations, but for those looking for a solid television alternative to Netflix, it’s quite good.

HBO Go, however, might just be the best addition to the living room experience I’ve seen in years. How HBO is willing to give away so much of its content for only the price of subscribing to its network is beyond me. But I’m more than happy to take advantage.

If you haven’t tried out HBO Go, you should do so sooner rather than later. HBO offers every episode (yes, you read that correctly) of its series both on now and off the air. In addition, it comes with the network’s documentaries, sports coverage, and films.

The issue with HBO Go is its general lack of availability in the living room. Unless you have certain devices or televisions, you’ll more than likely be watching it on a computer. Luckily, my Samsung television recently started supporting HBO Go, so I can watch all of its programming right from the couch. Over time, I expect more vendors to support the application, as well.

So, let’s consider this new scenario: when we want to watch popular, current major network and cable programming, we can opt for Hulu Plus. And in those cases where we want to check out what, I believe, is a grouping of even better shows and entertainment, we can go for HBO Go.

With Hulu Plus and HBO Go in tow, I don’t quite miss Netflix. In fact, I couldn’t care less about it.

For those who could already stream Hulu on your device, the update may still be relevant to you. The company said that it optimized playback for 7-inch tablets and also enhances resolution for devices capable of presenting high-resolution video. While support for Hulu Plus is still not universal for Android users, the company remains committed to providing updates as often as possible.

Hulu Plus’s availability on Android has been dicey from the start. When it first began rolling out to Google’s mobile platform, very scattered and random updates brought the service to devices with seemingly no logic. Some suggested they were only adding support for devices that their employees happened to have around the office. But now, it has grown to very wide availability.

[via Engadget]

When Hulu CEO Jason Kilar announced the 1.5 million milestone, he noted that between 2010 and 2011, the business grew by 60%, and brought in $420 million in revenue last year. The two million figure has not been announced by Hulu, but was reported by the New York Times. Hulu has managed to create quite a loyal following, especially since it makes all of its most popular and recent videos available to computer browsers for free.

The biggest question that Hulu needs to answer for consumers is – how am I different than Netflix? The most important answer to that is recency. Episodes of dozens of TV shows are made available on Hulu within 24 hours of being broadcast live. For Netflix, it may take as long as a year for that same show to be available.

[via IPTV-News]

The report doesn’t mention whether this would apply to the free or paid Hulu service, but TechCrunch has conferred with a source who says that the idea has been floating around since 2009. Hulu apparently has no interest in making the first move, as it could have potentially devastating effects, but at the same time it wants to keep content partners happy, so if its requested, they might have to comply.

TechCrunch’s source goes on to note how authentication, even if it does come to fruition, is likely still a few years away. What could happen, however, is an increase in the delay between when a TV show airs and when it appears on Hulu for non-cable subscribers. In this case, the show would be available the next day, but free and Hulu Plus users without a cable or satellite subscription would have to wait 30 days.

Other than these most recent rumors, it’s been smooth sailing for Hulu as of late. The streaming company recently announced that it had two million premium subscribers, and is planning on offering even more original content with four additional TV shows planned.

When Hulu CEO Jason Kilar announced the 1.5 million milestone, he noted that between 2010 and 2011, the business grew by 60%, and brought in $420 million in revenue last year. The two million figure has not been announced by Hulu, but was reported by the New York Times. Hulu has managed to create quite a loyal following, especially since it makes all of its most popular and recent videos available to computer browsers for free.

The biggest question that Hulu needs to answer for consumers is – how am I different than Netflix? The most important answer to that is recency. Episodes of dozens of TV shows are made available on Hulu within 24 hours of being broadcast live. For Netflix, it may take as long as a year for that same show to be available. What makes Hulu Plus worth the extra $8/month cost is that it gives users access to the back catalog of episodes, but perhaps even more important today, it makes Hulu streaming available on other devices. Hulu.com is free from people who watch on a computer, but if you want to watch those same videos on the PS3 or an Internet-connected TV, you need Hulu Plus. It’s a great business model.

[via NY Times]

Admittedly, at times I’ve thought seriously about making such a move. There have been times in the past when I’ve been watching shows on Netflix and catching up on episodes via Hulu Plus and thought that cord cutting wouldn’t be such a bad idea. After all, they had, at that time, everything I wanted.

But as time wore on and I thought more rationally, I realized just how ludicrous it is to cut the cord at this point in my life. Hulu Plus is great for some of the shows I watch, but far too many series aren’t available. Even worse, the breadth of content, while impressive on one hand, can be rather disappointing for those of us who watch programming not found on the big networks.

And as for Netflix? Well, I’ve been increasingly disenfranchised with the service. There was a time when I believed Netflix was the answer to all of my entertainment woes. And for a period, it was. But as the service has lost major films and been relegated to a place to find outdated television shows or last season of a popular series, I’ve realized that little good can come from loving Netflix. The service was once a juggernaut; now, it’s a disappointment.

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying every minute of my cable television service. I have hundreds of channels with all kinds of desirable programming. And although it might end up costing me a bit more than cord cutting, I like the convenience of popping on my television and enjoying all the content I had saved on my DVR.

Plus, there’s the issue of HBO. I’m one of those folks that loves practically everything HBO hands out, including its new series, older programs, and sports documentaries. I’m often found sitting in front of my television on a Saturday night watching a boxing match or catching up on Game of Thrones. To not have HBO in my life — and not be able to stream HBO Go from the browser — is enough to make me shudder at the thought of it.

So, forgive me if I don’t see the reason to switch to an all-streaming entertainment package just yet. I do believe that eventually, cable and satellite companies could be pushed out of the space, but I don’t think it’ll happen anytime soon. The amount of content available only through those services and not online makes it nearly impossible for someone like me to cut the cord. And I have the distinct feeling that I’m not alone.

So here’s the complete list of supported devices: Asus’s Eee Pad Transformer Prime, Asus’s Eee Pad Transformer, Motorola’s Xoom, Motorola’s XYBoard 10.1, Toshiba’s Thrive, Acer’s Iconia, and LG’s G-Slate. Just like with the Android phone rollout, there doesn’t seem to be a common denominator among these devices. When the phone app was getting off the ground, some even suggested that Hulu was working on one device at a time and simply used whatever phones they had available at their offices.

Hulu has confirmed that the seven devices mark “just the beginning of our Android tablet rollout.” However, it did not provide any sort of time table as for when users can expect an update. Meanwhile, of course, iPad owners have been streaming Hulu content free and clear since last year. As to be expected, the site blames hardware fragmentation, with each tablet running a different combination of Android version number, processor, and product display and layout. It’s nice to see that the team is working on it, though.

[via GigaOM]

This service is currently signed between Comcast and groups such as Disney, Sony Pictures, and Time Warner’s Warner Bros. If this means that the Disney collection of animated movies are included in the catalog of streaming content, you’re going to see a gigantic windfall from this deal. As Marcien Jenckes, general manager of video services at Philadelphia-based Comcast said earlier today:

“This is about adding value to our existing multi-channel subscription.” – Jenckes

What she’s referring to is the fact that this service will not be offered to non-customers. That is, if you’ve got both internet and TV through Xfinity On Demand, you’ll be getting this service for free. If you do not purchase broadband from Comcast but still do get TV, this package will cost you an additional $4.99 a month – if you want it. If what this proposition is saying is true, and that in addition to these giant names providing new content that’s not already on Netflix or Hulu Plus, there’s a back catalog of 75,000 videos – this may well be a force to be reckoned with in the near future!

[via Bloomberg]

Navigation is via the Wiimote, and there’s search support across TV shows, movies and shorter clips. All of the usual Hulu Plus content is available, including current shows like Family Guy, Glee, New Girl, Vampire Diaries and Modern Family, along with older back-catalog access, while there are also Miramax movies and a dedicated kids section.

There’s also access to Hulu Latino, for current and classic Spanish-language programming. The service joins Netflix and other streaming services on the console.

Meanwhile, Nintendo says the 3DS will get Hulu Plus access later in the year, though the exact timescale isn’t confirmed. We’re guessing similar access will be supported on the upcoming Wii U, which might also allow content to be streamed directly to the touchscreen controller tablet.

Hulu isn’t naming names, but it’s clear the company thinks it has the edge on streaming rivals. “Our model [of free and paid upselling] allows us to profitably pay content owners approximately 50% more in content licensing fees per subscriber when compared to other similarly priced online subscription services” it claims, announcing that it expects to spend around half a billion dollars on content deals this year.

However, 2011 will also go down as the year when Hulu failed to ink a deal, with its owners decided to drop attempts to sell the company after one by one big-name potential bidders dropped out. Instead, Hulu is said to be considering an IPO.

Meanwhile, comScore claims Netflix users are spending twice as much time watching that streaming service instead of Hulu Plus. In November 2011, Netflix users apparently viewed a billion minutes, while Hulu viewers together racked up 480 million minutes.

Hulu Plus offers access to recent and classic TV shows from ABC, Comedy Central, The CW, Fox, NBC, MTV, VH-1 and others, with a monthly subscription rate of $7.99. That still includes some “limited advertising” however. Shows currently on offer include Lost, Battlestar Galactica, Glee and Modern Family.

As for ESPN ScoreCenter, that pulls in multiple game results and updates for a variety of leagues worldwide, including football, soccer, tennis, golf and more.

While Hulu Plus and ESPN ScoreCenter are both already available in the Android Market, Kindle Fire owners will not be able to access Google’s official download store. Instead, they’ll be limited to the titles Amazon selects for its own Appstore for Android. That tight control over software is likely to reduce and contribute to owner frustration in equal measure: Kindle Fire users will have the confidence of knowing the apps available to them have been checked through for compatibility with the modified ereader-slate, but they’ll also be restricted from trying new titles that Amazon doesn’t approve of.

The Amazon Kindle Fire begins shipping on November 15. More information in our launch day report.

Hulu Plus offers subscription-based access to a broad catalog of streamed TV shows from ABC, Comedy Central, Fox, NBC, MTV and other broadcasters. Currently hosting more than 16,000 episodes from 400 different series, according to the company’s own count, the $7.99 per month subscription also includes access to a selection of “hundreds” of movies.

That broad array of TV content is apparently what has Apple’s exec team concerned, with the fear being that Apple TV owners will opt for a Hulu Plus subscription rather than paying per-show for rentals or purchases from iTunes. Although other streaming options are already available on the Apple TV, such as Netflix, it’s the recent content Hulu Plus specializes in that has caused the hold-up.

Ironically, part of the uncertainty appears to be around how convenient it is to access Hulu Plus. The service already offers apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, but those apps do not support AirPlay streaming to an Apple TV; you can hook up your iPad to a TV using the optional HDMI cable, but only with standard-definition, not HD, results. The acknowledgement seems to be that, while workarounds are possible, most users are too lazy to actually implement them.

As for the November system update, which we’ve known about for some time now, Nintendo has reiterated that it will include the ability to record video clips in 3D using the 3DS’ twin camera array. Until now, still 3D image capture has been supported but not videos. Each clip can be up to 10 minutes long, and the 3DS will also support 3D stop-motion animation.

Other aspects of the update will include new StreetPass Mii Plaza puzzles and a fresh dungeon to Find Mii, though Nintendo say other tweaks are in the works too. Finally, there are some fresh titles for the Nintendo eShop, the digital download store for the 3DS, and a selection of new 3D animations and music videos.

• Freakyforms™: Your Creations, Alive! lets players create creatures and bring them to life. This game is all about creation, customization and exploration. Available in November for $6.99.
• Developed with 3D game play in mind, Pushmo™ asks players to solve more than 250 puzzles by pulling and pushing blocks. Players can also create their own custom puzzles. Launches in December.
• Swapnote™ gives Nintendo 3DS owners the chance to send 3D messages to their friends via the SpotPass™ and StreetPass features. Users can hand-write messages in 3D and also include picture and sound. Available for free download in December.
• Dillon’s Rolling Western™ is a 3D tower defense game that blends action and strategy. It features an armadillo who defends an Old West town rendered in 3D by literally rolling over his enemies. Launches in Q1 2012.

It was July that Microsoft dropped out of the bidding war, no more Windows on the Glee! toter. July also had Amazon, AT&T, and Verizon Wireless thinking about bidding on Hulu, but as it turns out, carriers and keepers of the books and movies of the world not ending up able to reach any sort of agreement on the big H. DirecTV, Starz, and Netflix got in on the war, but they clashed opinions and wants to the max.

Then there’s the most recent news from September where we heard that there were too many low ball bids to continue the sale successfully. Turns out that was probably pretty true, as today Hulu and crew have released the following statement:

The following is a joint statement from Hulu owners News Corporation, Providence Equity Partners, The Walt Disney Company and the Hulu senior management team:

“Since Hulu holds a unique and compelling strategic value to each of its owners, we have terminated the sale process and look forward to working together to continue mapping out its path to even greater success. Our focus now rests solely on ensuring that our efforts as owners contribute in a meaningful way to the exciting future that lies ahead for Hulu.”

What will they do next?! We shall see!

The updated Hulu Plus for Android now supports an additional eight smartphones, including the HTC Incredible 2, HTC EVO 3D, HTC Sensation, Motorola Droid 3, Motorola Bionic, Motorola X2, LG Revolution, and LG G2x. It also now supports the HTC Flyer tablet.

The six smartphones it supported at launch include the Nexus One, Nexus S, HTC Inspire 4G, Motorola Droid X, and the Motorola Atrix. Hopefully, Hulu Plus will soon go the route of the Netflix app, which recently began supporting all Android 2.2 and 2.3 devices.

[via Android Community]

The Hulu Plus service on the Vizio 8-inch tablet will cost subscribers $7.99 monthly for access. We already know all about Hulu and the shows it offers. This is a great service for catching up with your favorite shows past and present. The tablet also has the integrated universal remote software for Vizio home theater gear.

At the $299 price the Vizio tablet should be appealing to people that don’t use Vizio home theater gear. The tablet packs in 2GB of memory with support for up to 32GB more via a microSD card. We reviewed the tablet not long ago. We found the tablet lacking in performance compared to the dual-core tablets on the market but an update to boost performance is expected.

“The VIZIO Tablet was designed to provide a world class Internet content experience and we are proud to be one of the first Android-powered tablets to support Hulu Plus,” said Matt McRae, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. “VIZIO is committed to delivering innovative products to consumers that break new ground, deliver new services and address gaps in the industry.”

The six smartphones that Hulu says will support the new app include the Nexus One, Nexus S, HTC Inspire 4G, Motorola Droid II, Motorola Droid X, and the Motorola Atrix. If you are a subscriber already to Hulu Plus and it works on a smartphone other than one of the six HTC spells out let us know. Hulu says that it will be adding new handsets over the coming months to the officially supported list.

Naturally, you will need a subscription to the Hulu Plus service to use the app. You can download and get a free week trial to see if you like it. Hulu Plus is a good way to catch up on some of your network favorite shows and it has some of the cool old shows that are no longer on the air as well. I like to check out A-Team and some of the other shows from my youth.

[via Android Community]

TechCrunch claims to have heard from a source close to Yahoo that the company “hasn’t had any meaningful conversations with Hulu about a buyout.” Interestingly, while the original offer was painted as an unsolicited one, this new source says that Hulu is “actively looking for a buyer” and has gone so far as to enlist Morgan Stanley in representing them.

Without knowledge of the exact sources – and their motivations in pushing the Hulu sale story – it’s hard to say what’s true and what isn’t. Hulu has been working hard to negotiate content access over the past few months, though faces a potential cull of free shows as networks consider alternative distribution methods. Back in February the company announced it was nearing 1m Hulu Plus subscribers, who pay to access the back catalog of the streaming service.