Hulu Plus vs
Netflix
The Alternative Television Programming
Showdown
You may not know this now,
but the cable bundle empire is close to becoming yesterday’s news. This is so
since the new generation of consumers is aggressively opting for alternative television programming
solutions. But while some of the big boys in the cable TV industry boasted of having 12 to 22
million subscribers, such impressive figures still fail to detail the big difference between the
steady increase of subscriptions all over the United States and the growing population of those who
have decided to stop subscribing with their cable providers. Reports said that just last year
alone, certain cable companies have grossed over 140,000 subscriptions, while another 400,000 have
decided to cut off their services.
Today’s younger demographics, or the
“fast-paced” working professional segment of the market, has started “cord-cutting.” A cable bundle
before may have been considered a must-have for individuals starting to live on their own, but not
anymore. The advent of Hulu Plus and Netflix gave consumers another exciting platform to play and
enjoy with these days, be it through their computers, mobile devices, or gaming consoles where
unlimited content can be streamed through at low flat rates. While you can look for other online
sites where you can stream content to your heart’s content, only Hulu Plus and Netflix has the best
arrays so far.
Netflix, to begin with, already has a good
head start with its 30 million happy and satisfied subscribers. Hulu Plus on the other hand, has
just hit 3 million subscribers.
As a public company, Netflix promised to
widen its instant streaming services by throwing $5 billion into the table just to bring in new
content for the next few years. This good news tells the consumers that it’s safe to assume that in
the near future, everyone will be enjoying many popular movies and TV shows on
Netflix.
Hulu Plus, a joint venture courtesy of
FOX, NBC, and ABC, features all the best shows these networks have to offer on both computers and
other mobile devices. It is now currently experimenting with the idea of introducing movie titles
into its wide collection of TV shows. Just last year, its revenues went sky high, up to $695
million (65%). When it comes to content purchases though, Hulu has been reported spending close to
$500 million.
When It Comes to
Accessibility
It must be noted that both Hulu Plus and
Netflix can be readily streamed online using assorted popular mobile devices. Both services also
allow streaming features using 3G and 4G broadband networks.
Up until today, Netflix reportedly has more
gadgets it can work with. This is so since Netflix has been in the industry for a much longer time
than Hulu Plus; it is sometimes described as “simply riding the coattails of what Netflix has
started.” However which way you want to look at it, you can easily access your Netflix account and
start streaming using your favorite gaming consoles such as the XBOX 360 and PS3, Windows Smart
phones, multiple IOS devices, android-based gadgets, Blu-Ray players, and everyone’s favorite home
theater systems.
When It Comes to Content
Presentation
This is where both services differ. Netflix
boasts of about a hundred thousand streaming options, especially with an ever-growing popular
movies collection. Add to that a wide array of TV series, though most presentations are not the
current season formats.
Hulu Plus is better known for
presenting current-season episodes of today’s favorite TV shows coming from the networks mentioned
above. Since it brags about rights to the current season episodes (which is a valuable commodity
these days), think of it as the best service you can get hold of if you missed certain episodes of
your favorite shows. And the best part of it is getting
access to such content on the fly.
When It Comes to User
Friendliness
Like other existing video subscription
companies both are readily available online. Users sign in using their personal accounts to access
all available movies and shows online. Both subscription companies have free trial features so
prospects can check out their services. Operating each of them proves to be a breeze as
well.
Note that Hulu Plus is designed solely
for streaming. Netflix on the other hand, offers more with its DVD mail service. This provides
customers with convenience when choosing online titles and creating their own personal lists. The
chosen DVD’s are then sent thru mail, without the due dates. As soon as they finish watching the
DVD movie, they simply have to return it before another DVD from their “wish lists” will be sent
their way.
When It Comes to the
Price
Netflix services will cost you $7.99
every month, and with it comes your unlimited ability to stream content through its instant
streaming services.
While you can watch Hulu for free on
Hulu.com, you have to be content with a significant number of ads shown throughout your streaming
activities. You can also consider another option with the Hulu Plus Premium, which costs you $7.99
a month. Here, you have all the access you want when downloading mobile apps and gaming consoles. A
few ads will still appear even with your premium subscription though.
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