Despite much fanfare about video on demand in various territories, we’ve not really seen much of it in Ireland, and even in the UK uptake isn’t what it could be. A lot of this is down to broadband speeds in Ireland (or lack thereof), but over in the UK with Virgin Media offering 50mb broadband, what is the future for watching movies online? Do we still rent from the video store? Do you rent from dvd rental companies? Do we watch whatever Sky movies have on at any particular time? What if any movie you wish to watch you could do so for free, instantly, and without getting up from your seat? Hulu.com certainly looks like a sign of things to come.
Whilst Youtube is the market leader when it comes to video sharing sites, Hulu.com seem to have taken the lead – in the United States at least – when it comes to providing full length, high definition movies which users can watch for free, anytime. Hulu.com also have an increasing range of archived TV programmes including Family Guy, 24, and even the Golden Globes. As time goes on and deals get done, it looks like they’ll have an even wider range of movies and programmes.
Youtube have done a deal with MGM to provide full length movies, it doesn’t seem to be a deal which in any way can compete with Hulu – plus Hulu just looks and works better. It’s a bit of a bummer that (for the moment at least), you need to be in the US to access videos on Hulu, but as time goes on that’s sure to change.
With laptops increasingly being shipped with HD output ports as standard (as I have on my new laptop), and broadband speeds increasing, it certainly looks like the technology is there to eliminate the DVD for good within ten years at least.
So, what do you think? Do you think that within the next three years we’ll have totally free movies to watch – high definition – anytime, anywhere?
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DVD rentals are definitely going down the tubes. Chartbusters are in the courts today for €20m in debts, even though they diversified to providing Internet Access, and Tanning facilities, looks like their business model is a thing of the past.
I think netflix is still doing ok though as they have a much more up to date business model.
Still, on demand is the future!