The Internet video site created by NBC and News.Corp will
make its public debut on Wednesday, with programming from Time Warner Bros
Television Group, Lionsgate and from sports leagues.
In a statement, Hulu said that it will offer free videos
from more than 50 popular cable networks, movie studios and Web content
providers when it launches.
Up to now, the site has only been available to the public on
an invitation-only basis.
When the site was announced, many skeptical media critics
predicted that the site will fail in favor of other similar sites, such as the
popular YouTube.
But today, many Internet users are impatiently waiting for
the site to launch. On the day of its launch, Hulu will offer full-length
episodes of more than 250 TV series that have become classical, including “The
Simpsons” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” or “My name is Earl.” It will also
offer 100 movies, among which are “The Usual Suspects,” “Requiem for a Dream,”
“The Big Lebowski” and “Ice Age.”
After recent tests showed strong consumer interest in
long-form online video, Hulu will be the project to confirm the results.
Hulu Chief Executive Jason Kilar said they have attracted
more than five million viewers in the past month, due to the full-length
movies, contemporary shows and good video quality. Apparently, nearly 80
percent of the site’s entire video library is viewed every seven days.
Another interesting feature on the site is the large range
of options for advertisers. For example, Nissan can give viewers the option to
choose the car ad that they wish to watch, among several ads.
Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey said he was
impressed by the advertising features.
Advertisers are willing to spend “billions of dollars
getting the right ad in front of the right person,” McQuivey said of marketing
to traditional television viewers, according to Reuters. Hulu's online
advertising allows "self-selected targeting."
"From the advertisers’ perspective, it can't get any
better," McQuivey said.
Starting with March 12, Hulu will be available at www.hulu.com.
