Hulu.com Is For TV Viewers Like Me

My beta invite finally came through for Hulu.com and I'm really into it.  For the longest time, I really haven't been watching much prime time TV primarily because I didn't like sitting through bad shows, couldn't find the time to figure out what I should watch, and most of the time we watch shows that the entire family could watch.  By the time the munchkins were a sleep, I was well on my way to a DVD for a movie or World of Warcraft.  Now that is changing with Hulu.com.  Here's why I really like Hulu.com

1. The video quality is near TV like; no more grainy videos or sound that is slightly off because the person who recorded the show used a video camera a few feet from their TV.
2. I get full episodes and clips; again no more viewing shows in 10 minute increments
3. There are a lot of premium shows to catch including The Office, The Family Guy, 30 Rock, and many more included WKRP in Cincinnati. 
4. You can share, email, and make comments and while the community isn't as large as YouTube you have all of the tools there for your social networking habit.
5. Did I mention WKRP and a young Loni Anderson?
6. I can watch the TV shows any time I want and any where I am as long as I have access to a laptop or PC.  I haven't tried watching anything on my Treo, but my guess is that I'll have the same trouble I always have when I watch video on Verizon's wireless network - it comes in but every 30 seconds or so the video buffers.
7. I don't need to buy TV shows on DVD to catch up; I still have the Sopranos on my holiday list, but that show is a little special.

Right now, Hulu.com is not bombarded with ads - sure every 5 minutes or so there is a 15 second inserted into the show, but it didn't annoy me, just seeing the same advertiser over and over again (Intel) was annoying.  The site isn't loaded with banner or search ads either so it is nice and clean.

Sure Hulu.com doesn't have the community that YouTube has and it certainly doesn't have user generated content.  However, for me, I like watching professional clips more so than user generated ones and if I want consumer content I know where to go - YouTube.  Hulu differentiates itself from all of the other video sites on the internet with what they all desire - professional, copyrighted material.  I doubt Hulu will eat much into YouTube's viewership, but it sure will help hasten the migration of watching professional shows from the big tube to the little screen.  Plus, I wonder how this impacts copyright lawsuits in progress.  Anyway, nicely done Hulu.

PardonMyFrench,

Eric