The dispute began last week when Hulu content was pulled from both TV.com and the Boxee media center. A vague explanation was given for the Boxee situation, but the only thing anyone at Hulu had to say about TV.com was that it had to do with "contractual obligations."
In some ways Hulu is one of the most surprising services on the internet. In 2007, when NBC Universal and Fox parent News Corp announced they were working on an online video website it seemed unlikely they would come up with an offering as user friendly as Hulu. Up to that Hollywood's track record was horrible.
From the time it launched Hulu has received unprecedented praise from nearly everyone. You could barely tell they were owned by huge media companies.
It may be that NBC and Fox are finally deciding to throw their weight around and stop letting Hulu operate independently. Maybe they're punishing CBS for declining an offer to participate in Hulu from the beginning.
Whatever is really going on behind the scenes it seems clear this isn't over yet.
Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 23 Feb 2009 18:32
