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Tag: hulu-plus

  • Hulu in 2012: $695M Revenue, 3M Paying Subscribers

    2012 has been a huge year for Hulu. The following article will go over the progress the company made over the past year, its current and future expansion plans and also what is in store for Hulu in the upcoming years.

    Hulu Revenue Update

    In the year 2012 Hulu earned $695 million dollars in revenue. This number represents a 65% growth in revenue over the past five years, which is high for general industry as well as tech companies.

    New Subscriber Numbers

    Hulu has expanded its subscriber base substantially in 2012, with around three million current users. These Hulu Plus subscribers represent users that pay to access Hulu and represent a revenue stream separate from the company's advertising based revenue model.

    How Has Hulu Content Changed in 2012?

    2012 has brought a plethora of new content to Hulu streaming video service. Total titles available have grown by 40% and much of the new content comes from premium, established media companies like Viacom, CBS, and World Wrestling Entertainment. The content additions have done a great deal to make Hulu more competitive with other streaming services like Netflix and Amazon.

    Hulu Advertising Changes in 2012

    This fiscal year has brought a large increase in the number of advertisers who work with Hulu. In 2012 Huku has worked with over a thousand different advertising firms which represents a 28% increase over the same advertising partnerships from one year ago. Not only are advertisers who work with Hulu becoming more diverse, they are being drawn to the company by the ability to effectively target an audience and reduce the amount of wasted commercial impressions.

    One big project that Hulu will be focusing on in 2013 will be to expand into the Japanese market with special Japan-only programming and production of domestic Japanese shows for usage on the Hulu Japan site. This expansion combined with the solid revenue and content numbers bodes well for the future of Hulu in the online content streaming industry.

  • 2011 Sony HDTV Still Leads the Industry

    Several other high-end HDTV units have come to market over the past year. But none have topped Sony’s Bravia XBR-46X929 in terms of style and ability. And with new models coming to market at year’s end, deal hunters could find one at a greater value than ever before.

    Sure, the $2,500 price tag might have discouraged some consumers from stepping up to the plate on this device. But while there may be larger units than Sony’s 46-inch model, none of them marry technology and aesthetic value so completely.

    The front of the Bravia XBR-46X929 is a single piece of Gorilla Glass, giving it a seamless, smooth look when hung up on your wall. And at only 1.5 inches wide, it’s barely noticeable, until you want it to be.

    And once you turn it on, you’ll truly understand the power of what you’ve purchased. The color is as good as it gets, the unit automatically adjusts the backlight section by section, and the image is smooth as can be, even during scenes of huge action.

    The Bravia comes stock with Netflix and 3D capabilities, as well as other huge bonuses such as Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Skype and even digital music services from Pandora. All of those bonuses make the menu system a bit much to manage, but the set will quickly become your only requirement for total home entertainment.

    Again, you can certainly find a cheaper 46-inch than the Sony Bravia XBR-46X929, and the remote is a bit clunky and counterintuitive. But if picture quality and a massive amount of applications mean more to you than the temporary pain of shelling out a few extra hundred dollars, you simply won’t find a better HDTV set on the market. At least until Sony releases its next model.

  • The Top-Rated Vizio M3D470KD HDTV Set

    If you want a high quality HDTV device but can’t see yourself paying more than $1,000, do yourself a favor and check out the 47-inch Vizio M3D470KD. Coming in at a lean $900, this edge-lit LED delivers excellent image quality, intense colors, and fantastic wireless connectivity.

    Vizio’s solid new release centers around the remote control. It’s fitted with a full keyboard, so linking the set with an Apple TV and navigating streaming content is a breeze. It’s not fully without it’s flaws, as the sound from the built-in speakers isn’t fantastic, but you can’t do much better at this price point.

    The M3D470KD features both 2D and 3D viewing, and tests shows it performs well in either setting. And though the image does suffer from some softness depending on the content, it features a wide range of angles of acceptable viewing, which sets it apart from other LED competitors.

    Again, the big drawback is the sound. It distorts without being pushed very far, and the imitation surround sound system is just that. So if you’re looking for the full theatrical experience, it will best be paired with a set of quality speakers.

    It’s also quite green, having earned the Energy Star label. While it uses a fairly average amount of watts when turned on, when turned off it uses close to zero energy. The backlight adjusts to the amount of ambient light as well, so it won’t waste the juice if it’s unnecessary.

    Vizio’s new release isn’t the simplest HDTV to set up, but it comes with a wealth of installed features. You’ll access Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon and Vudu Pay-Per-View services and YouTube right out of the box, as well as direct access to many of the most popular websites in the world. You’ll even find a dedicated set of web video channels, pulled from sites like PBS, Vimeo and Funny or Die. So if you’re willing to pay for a solution to the audio issue, you’ll find yourself more than happy with the purchase.