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After restricting Hulu Plus — Hulu’s pay-to-play movie and TV streaming offering — to members of Sony’s paid PlayStation Plus service, Sony has decided to tear down that pay wall and let non-paying PlayStation Network members in on the action.
Sony announced on the PlayStation Blog that it will open up Hulu Plus access to all “soon.” The post says to check back next week, when it will reveal the exact date.
This is good news for frugal PS3 owners, but a big fat minus for those who prepaid for multi-month PlayStation Plus access just to get a hold of Hulu Plus.
Hulu Plus Soon Available to All PS3 Users [PlayStation Blog]
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Was it not the plan original to bring Hulu Plus to all eventually, outside the PS+ subscription?
And Phil, have you bought a new TV, and if so, what make/model?
Yup. It was only for PS+ during the Hulu Plus Beta. Out of beta, open to all. This isn’t a concession. PS+ is meant for discounts and early access, not EXCLUDING features, unlike XBL Gold.
There’s an Xibit joke in this somewhere, but I’m too lazy to dig it out.
I wonder when Hulu will bust through the protectionist American wall? I’m guessing, “Never.”
American entertainment, for Americans, by Americans, in America.
America.
America.
America.
I just bought a three month subscription to PSN+ to finish watching Lost on Hulu+ after Netflix dropped it. Rage.
1. Do what makes us the most money possible.
2. Wait for any possible backlash
3. Change policy to maximize profit while minimizing anger
Solidifies my decision to grab a PS3 this holiday season. Was planning on getting a Blu-Ray player with Netflix/Hulu but considering there’s a few games for PS3 i’ve always wanted to play, i’ll spend the extra money on a console.
In my experience, having the built-in storage is a plus for blu-ray playback.
Blu-Rays seem to want to write a file when they first play. It is probably related to the special features some of these discs have. When I had a Samsung player with no onboard storage, I had a lot of discs that didn’t want to load to their main screen or would take multiple attempts to get there.
With my PS3, I haven’t had one problem with disc playback. Netflix runs smoothly. Load some ripped or digital copies onto the HDD or a portable HDD and you don’t need the discs at all. Picture quality is still among the better blu-ray players. Sony updates the blu-ray firmware more than I ever noticed Samsung doing it. It is 3D enabled if that is your thing. And I can play games on it.
The price on Netflix enabled, wireless equipped blu-ray players with onboard storage has come down a lot since last year. The top of the line LG blu-ray player last year was the same price as a PS3, so it was a no brainer to get the PS3. The 250GB BD590 recieved good reviews and is just over $200 on Amazon right now, so if you don’t need the gaming you can save some money. Or look at it as paying $100 for a current gen gaming system.
The ONLY thing to keep in mind is that there’s no IR port. So you either buy a bluetooth remote or get an IR adapter. Just a heads up.
If you are a one remote for everything person a Logitech Harmony with the PS3 Bluetooth ($60) adapter is awesome, but absurdly expensive (and you will cringe when a child holds it). Otherwise the Sony PS3 remote is quite reasonably priced.
I have a Blu-Link Universal Remote. $37.00 on Amazon right now and I saw a few on clearance at Best Buy today when I was waiting for something at a store nearby. It is not nearly as fancy as the Harmony, but I have it set up to control my TV, home theater, and cable box along with the PS3. It is a remote with both bluetooth and IR. For the price compared to a Harmony or even a standard Sony PS3 remote, I am very happy with it.
http://www.amazon.com/PS3-Blu-Link-Universal-Remote-Control-Pc/dp/B002LARYGA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289059750
If you can substitute hulu plus for your cable tv service, you could pay for the PS3 very quickly with the savings from not having to pay for cable tv service. The drawback is that you are forced to watch the commercials, because you can’t skip through the commercials.
I was under the impression that Plus subscribers didn’t get commercials.
RosevilleWgn
Hulu Plus still has the ads.
What? HULU is still around? Not in my house.
One less reason to get PS Plus.
Still very few reasons to get Hulu Plus when Netflix is so much better.
Love Hulu but their commercials are a joke for $10 a month. Too long and Too many.
Whether people want to believe it or not, Netflix is a rival of Hulu’s and they have the same price, no commercials, AND a better library