We reported in April that the free online TV provider Hulu was likely to go behind a pay wall starting in the end of May.  Thankfully, for us TV lovers, that didn’t come to pass.  However, a new subscription services now being rolled out, dubbed Hulu Plus.  Hulu, a joint venture between the parent companies of FOX, ABC, and NBC, was created to allow viewers to watch select shows from those networks (as well as some movies) in one place.  The site offers free access and is supported by ads.

However, until now the site was unavailable on other platforms, such as smartphones, video game consoles, Blu-ray players, and more.  Users wishing to access the site through these means will be able to purchase a subscription to Hulu Plus for $10 a month.  Hulu Plus will also open up all episodes of a show’s current season for viewing, as opposed to the normal rules which only allow the five most recent episodes to be viewed.  The normal free service will still be offered as is.

The site has become a popular destination since its inception, with over 1 billion videos watched last month.  The site was created to help combat the proliferation of piracy, through torrents and third-party streaming.  The service represents the newest attempt to try to make Internet TV profitable and prevent it from siphoning any more revenue away from the networks.

The downside to Hulu Plus is that it will still contain commercials as opposed to a service like Netflix, where, for a similar fee, users can stream shows and movies without commercials. The only advantage that Hulu has over Netflix currently is the many current TV shows that are available through the Hulu Plus program. On the other hand, Netflix has an advantage in the movie department, with more recent releases than Hulu or Hulu Plus. Hulu and Netflix represent only two competitors in the online streaming service, with Amazon a contender, as well as Sears/Kmart, who are launching their services in time for this year’s holiday season.  Who will ultimately come out ahead in this new venue is yet to be determined. Ultimately, it will be price, convenience and relevance that will drive customers to these services. In the meantime, you can take advantage of services that provide an alternative to cable at a price practically anyone can afford.