Hulu has already blocked the BlackBerry PlayBook

[Emil]

Hulu blocked the BlackBerry PlayBook just one day after the device was officially released. Apparently Hulu did not like the idea of PlayBook users streaming media from the service, according to Crackberry.

This was expected, of course, given that Hulu blocks pretty much every mobile device that is ever released. In order to ensure that no international users outside the US have access to the videos, Hulu also blocks many anonymous proxies, Amazon EC2 IP addresses, and virtual private networks.

Still, this decision is particularly unfortunate since the PlayBook is the one of the few tablets that supports native Flash. So much for "uncompromised web browsing" on the PlayBook. It looks like the only way around this is if Research In Motion strikes a deal with Hulu, but with alternatives like Netflix, would it really be worth the effort?

Hulu ultimately wants to get viewers to purchase Hulu Plus, which gives subscribers an expanded content library in the form of full seasons and more episodes of shows already available on the free version as well as allowing access to the streaming service from more devices. The only problem is Hulu Plus does not give you access on all your devices: just the ones they have so far decided to allow.

Granted, this is a decently long list (Apple's iOS 4 devices, Sony's PlayStation 3, the Roku Streaming Player, WD TV Media Player, as well as Blu-ray-linked television made by Samsung, Sony, and Vizio) but it's hardly all-encompassing. I would say that if Hulu is going to block devices like the PlayBook, it should work to have Hulu Plus working on them in time for launch. Otherwise, Hulu just looks like a poor sport, rather than a company trying to do business.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/43413-hulu-has-already-blocked-the-blackberry-playbook.html

 

[kosac]

so dont use hulu

 

[edison5do]

Cheers to NetFlix!!! with this kind of stupids companies, competition is out of the table, so no need to worry! Poor people they dont want to get updated to the modern "Bussines Model", I dont think they will have the much shining future like that.

 

[TorturedChaos]

I really don't understand what they are trying to gain by blocking potential customers.....

 

[gwailo247]

Nice move. Right out of the RIAA playbook...from 2000.

 

[Guest]

"so much for 'uncompromised web browsing'"

so, web browsing is compromised just because hulu doesn't want to stream to the device? Apparently I need to point out to the author that hulu is but one among the hundreds of millions of sites that may be browsed.

Also, my definition of browsing involves moving from a given web page to an arbitrary other web page. Streaming video from hulu does not meet this definition.

PS-tablets are just toys for adults anyway.

 

[Relic]

Not really surprising since they seem to block everything from the get go and try to force pay n play if possible. Until they catch up with the times I'll agree with them being 'poor sports'.

 

[tonylukac]

Typical fox. I don't see the logic only stupidity since fox/comcast owns hulu and why would they have any problem with licensing content for foreign markets since they are the content providers? Sort of like a reverse iron curtain. Ok, I won't watch your commercials if you don't want me to. Don't be stupid like them; read Techspot instead of watching tv.

 

[Guest]

just go to fancast were it does work stupid hulu trix are for kids

 

[spydercanopus]

Windows 7 tablets won't suffer Hulu discrimination, hopefully.