Hulu pulls content from Boxee, TV.com
updated 11:05 pm EST, Wed February 18, 2009
Hulu pulls content
Hulu has pulled all of its streaming videos from Boxee and CBS Interactive's TV.com. Boxee's blog expressed disappointment with the situation, especially considering the 100,000 Hulu streams it generated just last week. The problems reportedly began a few weeks ago when Hulu's content partners began asking for the service to be removed from Boxee. Despite Boxee's pleads to keep the streaming videos, the company will remove the content on Friday.
The Hulu blog showed a similar discontent with the move, although no additional details were provided. "Our mission to make media dramatically easier and more user-focused has not changed and will not change. We will not stop until we achieve it and we are sober in our assessment that we have such a long way to go," said CEO Jason Kilar.
TV.com's recent relaunch could have contributed to the decision to pull the content, if Hulu perceived the service as more of a competitor than a partner, according to paidContent. Hulu again provided little details of the motivations. "Hulu has contractual rights with regards to our relationship with tv.com and we are exercising those rights. Out of respect for their confidentiality, we will not disclose our discussions," a statement read.
AdvertisingAge provided one perspective on the possible motives. "Right now TV.com is distributing Hulu, and getting 10% of ad revenue from views that originate on its site, but TV.com could just as soon do its own content deals, even with NBC and Fox once Hulu's exclusivity ends." Other sources suggest Hulu could be attempting to swap the situation, pushing CBS to offer its own content in a revamped contract.
Despite the loss of NBC and Fox programs, Boxee recently added ABC to its streaming TV content. The software is still under development and the company is considering the prospect of releasing a set-top box.
