f America's cable and satellite companies didn't outright detest gamers before this past Tuesday, they certainly do now. Already spending countless hours gaming rather than passively viewing reality series and cooking shows, gamers now can embrace the technologies that have the potential to overthrow this nation's outdated telecom infrastructure once and for all. In the coming months, Hulu will become available for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, giving savvy technophiles one more way to avoid costly cable packages and digital satellite subscriptions.
While there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered about the new Hulu Plus service and how it will be implemented into Sony's and Microsoft's vastly different paradigms, one thing is abundantly clear: provided you're neither a sports fan nor see the need to watch a program the absolute minute it hits the airwaves, $10 brings a lot of entertainment into your home.your entertainment needs should be totally covered between Netflix and Hulu Plus.
I know what you're thinking: neither of these platforms are free, and that's true. Subscribing to both Netflix and Hulu Plus will set you back about twenty dollars a month in addition to what you're already paying for broadband, Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus. But chances are, that's a far cry from what your cable or satellite provider is charging you. To expect free television is as naïve as expecting free music or computer software — programming is a commodity just like any other form of entertainment. If you ask me, $10 is an incredibly fair price for a library of quality content streamed instantly into my home.
Back in March, I cancelled my digital cable package, choosing to receive basic HD broadcasts over the air instead. I'd found that the few cable programs I watched were available free of charge online, and dropping service would save me more than $900 in the first year alone. A TiVo box has already been ably filling in for my old cable box, and thanks to this Tuesday's announcement, my PlayStation 3 will be able to complete the package. The next time you write that check to your cable or satellite provider, I want you to take a good long look at the contents of your AV rack. If you're reading this column, I can almost guarantee you already have access to a device that just might save you a bundle on your monthly expenses.
It just goes to show: what's the secret to better services for lower prices? Competition.
Hint, hint, telecoms: move into Northeast Ohio and give AT&T a run for its misbegotten money!
Given how Hulu and Netflix aren't available in Canada this service is of little use to me. Other options would be nice.
i don't watch a lot of TV, but thanks to these services its easily accessible to me when i do.