Is the Free Ride Over at Hulu?

I like Hulu, and my usual complaint is that they don't have the starter episodes for me to start watching a new series. I think the venture partners are making a HUGE mistake there; always have the first several episodes and 2 current ones available to hook a new viewer! Like Sons of Anarchy, has great reviews, but with not being able to start from the beginning, I don't want to get into it. But to the question, 4.99 seems a touch steep for online only content; I think it has a huge profit margin there. IF there are no commercials I'd probably do it. I won't pay that for commercials!! I have netflix, love it, love the online delivery.

I also think the latest or last 2 shows of any current series should ALWAYS be available free. I DVR my shows, but we had a power outage, and I had to buy an episode we missed on iTunes, OUCH! If it wasn't my husband's favorite show, I wouldn't have.

Broadcast Television is free and is supported by ad sales. Why can't hulu be free and supported by ad sales? I don't know why networks can't make it from ad sales, they have two big things going for them:
1) as technology continues to improve, their ability to capture information about the viewer and target advertising directly to them will improve and
2) viewers of hulu are unable to fast-foward through the ad.

It seems to me this gives free-online content a big boost over broadcast ads. Why does it work for over-air broadcast and not for online broadcast?

Hulu ! Hulu ! ( prepareing for your death,are you? ) Hulu isn't THAT good ! The only thing that Hulu has going for it, is that its free. They must think the american public is stuppid, do they think we don't know that ad's, have to pay,--- to be aired . Now they want us to pay too.----When they only show a few A-list tv programs and most of the movies are B,C,& D movie & to take up space they offer the same tv & movies that were on the pages before, ( repetedly.) If Hulu is going ad free, that is a different , but we know thats not going to happen. Is there know one at Hulu that watches the news . America is in hard times right now, and Hulu wants to make it even harder.---So Hulu you can inprove your programing and become #1 on the net. Or go on with this really stuppid idea that you have come up with, and ( bury your site.) Hulu make millions on ads, (so be happy not greedy) I for one have delete on my computer & can and will use it.If I have to pay for something I can get for free somewhere else. So Hulu get your head out of your a--, and try to do the right thing. Hulu has good thing going now,don't screw it up . Hulu could be just a memory if they make this really stuppit move .---American public will only take so much grap from big biusness ,so take the advise of a pissed off american So be an american co. for the peaple and maybe become #1,and still make millions ,or become greedy B------ and a memory

If they charge and they still have commercials they are getting payed twice! I would stop watching! Plenty of other sites out there (including the networks themselves) that offer the shows for free. Anyone who would pay is just too lazy to go to the network sites for CW, Abc, and so on. In fact, every episode of "Lost" (all 5 seasons) is free at ABC.com (and I assume most other shows). Also cable has "on demand" with a my prime time category (included with my bill). If HULU charges, I would have no use for them!

Go to the library, check out a book. It's still free. Grab a sketchbook, draw something. Go for a walk or a run. Lot's of cheap alternatives.