The Pending Hulu Debate

I recently read Mark Cuban’s blog post on how Hulu should approach a subscription model Cuban's Blog. He suggests that Hulu should remain free to the .edu world because they are going to figure out a way to get it for free anyway. This feels like decriminalizing marijuana to Phish fans because it’s a foregone conclusion they already have a bumper crop of Afghan Kush growing in their basement. Seriously, I always appreciate Cuban’s opinion but have to respectfully disagree.

I’m not going to claim I have the magic business model for Hulu but that’s not going to stop me from offering an opinion.

Despite the recent hockey stick in their user curve, Hulu has yet to prove itself to be a deflationary force on Pay TV. Personally, I’m a 10 ft HDMI cable from all the content I need but I still long to have my laptop on my lap and my TV connected to satellite. As a 31 year old forged in the furnace of Web 1.0 and maturing with 2.0 I would be happy pay Hulu for their services, just don’t make me get married to a Pay TV provider. I pay Netflix, Rhapsody and SIRIUS because I like choice and instant access. Hulu needs to embrace the new digital socialism and give it a way and monetize later. Cuban is right about one thing, we will find away to get it online for free and we don’t need to be in college to figure it out.