Maybe Bert will understand this article about the potential new Hulu VMVPD
service...
Note the paragraph about competing with Sling and PSVue, and paragraph about
potential legal issues...
Regards
Craig
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2016/05/02/hulu-may-fight-netflix-with-40-live-tv-service.html
Hulu may fight Netflix with $40 live TV service
There's a good chance you already use Hulu to catch up on your favorite network
TV shows, but soon, you might be watching them live on the popular streaming
platform. According to The Wall Street Journal, Hulu is expected to roll out a
separate subscription service in early 2017 that would allow users to stream
select broadcast television channels.
Hulu's rumored live TV service is expected to offer channels from platform
co-owners Disney and Fox, including ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, Fox News, FX and
Fox Sports. The package may also feature DVR functionality, allowing you to
record your favorite shows for later as you would on a standard cable box.
There's currently no word on pricing, though the WSJ report says to expect
something in the $40 per month range.
If Hulu enters this space, it will be competing directly with services such as
Sony's $40 per month PlayStation Vue and Dish's $20 per month Sling TV, both of
which allow you to stream popular broadcast networks such as AMC, ESPN and CNN.
PlayStation Vue offers a DVR feature, while Sling allows customers to watch
select shows on-demand.
However, Hulu has the advantage of a user base of more than 10 million
customers. If the company's live broadcast service comes at a significant
discount for those already paying for Hulu, it could serve as an enticing
alternative to other internet TV packages, while giving the platform a big
advantage over the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Hulu's streaming
plan currently costs $7.99 per month, with an $11.99 commercial-free option
Amazon recently began offering Prime Video for $8.99 per month, but the company
doesn't offer live TV--at least not yet.
Compelling as it may be, Hulu's service might also find itself under legal
scrutiny. Considering that Fox and Disney are partial owners of the company and
would be able to influence the cost of streaming their own content, there's a
chance competitors could cry foul.
Potential issues aside, Hulu's rumored plans suggest that company is paying
close attention to the rising popularity of internet TV. If Hulu is able to
offer a strong package of live channels to the millions of folks already
watching its original and network-based shows, the popular service could end up
being the only place you need to go to get your television fix.