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Time Warner, Inc. Wants to Remove Current TV Episodes from Hulu to Stop Cord-Cutting

Phillip Dampier February 3, 2016 Competition, Consumer News, Online Video 9 Comments

Great_Wall_ Courtesy: Jakub Halun How dare you use Hulu to watch current episodes of your favorite TV shows?

Time Warner (Entertainment) CEO Jeff Bewkes is on a mission to put a stop to that because he believes it encourages cord-cutting. Time Warner, Inc. (no relation to Time Warner Cable) is in negotiations to acquire part-ownership of the popular streaming service. On the top of Time Warner’s agenda is getting rid of offering on-demand access to full seasons of current television shows, whether they exist on Hulu, Amazon, or Netflix. If Time Warner successfully acquires up to a 25% stake in Hulu, they have the potential to make that dream come true.

Bewkes is convinced the only way to stop consumers from dropping pay television subscriptions is to put current television shows behind an industry-enforced paywall. Only those with authenticated cable or satellite television subscriptions would be allowed to watch streaming video. Everyone else will have to get out the rabbit-ear antennas and watch over-the-air television or simply go without access for at least a year after the shows air.

huluTM_355Some on Wall Street think Time Warner’s argument has merit, noting streaming services’ growing libraries of popular television shows and movies makes consumers more likely to consider dropping bloated cable and satellite packages.

“If everybody in the industry is worried about Netflix driving cord-cutting, shouldn’t they be just as worried about Hulu?” Nomura Securities analyst Anthony DiClemente said to the Wall Street Journal, noting that Hulu offers many shows a day after they air.

Others worry implementing Time Warner’s agenda would cause an exodus of customers dropping their subscriptions, devaluing Hulu along the way. A few also believe dedicated viewers will simply resume pirating coveted shows.

The pay television industry has grown increasingly alarmed by research showing cord-cutters and cord-nevers will continue to grow as long as popular shows are easily available online. That is one reason Time Warner has no intention of putting full, current seasons of shows from its networks, including TNT and TBS, on any independent streaming service. Bewkes told analysts last fall the company is now considering holding back their shows to offer longer windows for its own on-demand platforms before selling to cord cutter hangouts like Netflix and Hulu.

The new restrictions would not affect customers already buying cable or satellite TV packages, who will be allowed access after logging in to their provider’s authentication website.

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Duffin
Duffin
8 years ago

I have just dropped my cable, and I do plan on getting Hulu Plus instead, but you know what? If they stop putting current episodes on Hulu I’m just not going to use Hulu and will stick with Netflix. No TV show on today is one I’m willing to shell out over $100 in order to watch it. That’s what these cable companies need to understand, that there is so much else to watch. Their desperate attempts to keep people in cable are failing because nothing they put on anymore is that much better than other places we can watch… Read more »

Mike D.
Mike D.
8 years ago

The TV providers have never been willing to fight for the consumer with the other conglomerates who bundled crap with one or two channels of good content.
Consumers are revolting against the high cost of dung and they want à la carte, but the giants still want to keep excessive profits and refuse to grow and learn.
Hope all these bozos rot in hell while I enjoy the outdoors and listen to the radio.

Joe V
Joe V
8 years ago

Man these guys just don’t get it. Not to worry, just as the music industry learned the hard way that to piss off their customers by giving them crap, DRM laced products and NOT giving them what they want which is easily accessible and reasonably priced music via downloadable by iTunes and amazon in mp3 format, so will the film and TV companies.

When the masses vote with their wallet, then the companies listen.

me
me
8 years ago

I cut in 2009. At first I tried to keep up. But then I realized it did not really mater anymore. *I* *AM* *FREE*!!!! The first year or so was tough but after that I did not care anymore. I am at about 5k now that I did not give to TWC. For 5k I can buy a lot of DVDs and then resell/donate. I no longer have to ‘wait until next week’ or even ‘next season’. I can watch when I want and most of it at my leisure. They did not want to sell me time shifting commercial… Read more »

Froggy2011
Froggy2011
8 years ago

cable will go bankrupt except for big companies using them. eventually even them leaving them. why because eventually the free movie and show market will get cut a legalized deal with expense of course and so much of a mass selection dating back far as for shows and new and latest. formerly like a reviewer stated Netflix and Hulu and amazon even I’ll mention as well youtube.

Everything will lead to anti cable modem all but a computer needed

Terry Carmen
8 years ago

Once I cut the cord, I discovered that not only did I have an extra $150 in AFTER TAX cash every month, I had a bunch of free time also.

It appears to be difficult for Time Warner to comprehend that once customers discover that they’ve been losing both money and time, there is no price or “deal” or “bundle” that will bring them back.

Even if cable TV were completely free, I still wouldn’t get it again.

Joe
Joe
7 years ago

Last Friday I terminated 2/3 of my Time Warner Triple Play, dumping TV & digital phone. When I dropped off my equipment at the local Time Warner Cable store I explained I’d be replacing Roadrunner with Earthlink next, since they were going to charge me $70/month for RR Turbo and Earthlink offers the same level of service for $40/month for the first 6 months and then $52/month thereafter. The rep said TW could do much better than that, and I told her I didn’t think so but go ahead and give me a quote. She worked her keyboard and came… Read more »

Terry Carmen
7 years ago

> Time Warner, Inc. Wants to Remove Current TV Episodes from Hulu to Stop Cord-Cutting

WOW!

This would be terrible, if I hadn’t already cancelled them several years ago.

And if I had Hulu.

It’s like if you complained about an expensive restaurant with bad food, and their “fix” was to make the food at *other* restaurants worse.

Steve Stephens
Steve Stephens
7 years ago

It gets brought up in every thread I know, but at some point I’m sure people will understand that Time Warner Inc and Time Warner Cable are completely separate companies that have nothing to do with each other. Probably 5 years after Time Warner Cable becomes New Charter.

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