Filed under: Internet, Video, Macintosh
Hulu kills Boxee support... again
by Brad Linder Mar 6th 2009 at 6:45PM
The Boxee team figured that since the new build didn't mess with Hulu's service in any way, but simply used the publicly available RSS feeds to pull in videos just as you would if you were using a web browser like Firefox or Internet Explorer, that all would be kosher. Apparently they were wrong. Hulu today blocked access to Boxee's browser.
The move shouldn't be surprising. If the content owners that provide TV shows and films to Hulu didn't want Boxee serving up its videos in February, they don't want it doing so today either. Ultimately this means that Hulu's backers don't want to make it easy to watch the internet videos hosted on the site on your television. They'd rather you watch them the old fashioned way. You know, on your DVR while zapping past the commercials with your remote control.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
step21 said 7:06PM on 3-06-2009
@Adam Oh so true ... For me the whole last.fm thing was the last nail in the coffin for TechCrunch, they totally lost any credibility they had left, and things like this show it's not getting any better.
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Mysterius said 9:55PM on 3-06-2009
Wrong post?
Mysterius said 9:55PM on 3-06-2009
How has Hulu identified Boxee? By user agent?
Can Boxee work through Firefox to access Hulu, or something?
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Victor Agreda, Jr. said 10:19PM on 3-06-2009
Yeah, on the Boxee blog there are a few suggestions that they simply change their user agent to IE or something. Still, the underlying problem is there: a management team completely out of touch with reality and unwilling to make an attempt to understand the situation.
Usually in cases like that, the most organized and well-funded party wins. Except in David v. Goliath.
Rocketboy said 9:45AM on 3-07-2009
Managment team, or content 'owners'?
Jim said 8:43AM on 3-07-2009
So frustrating, not that it got broke again, but that Hollywood doesn't get it still, and that they'd rather I watch it on my computer (downloading a torrent with NO ads) or on my tv- with my tivo skipping ads anyway.
you finally had a way to get me to watch your TV with your ads, and you kill it.
So now you lose.
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ogoldberg said 9:39AM on 3-07-2009
they fixed it. if you restart, you'll find it working again.
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zimbu1234 said 10:11AM on 3-07-2009
works for me
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Jamus said 12:11PM on 3-07-2009
It is like the cold war nuke race all over again...
I think Hulu woudl actually be ok with Boxee presenting video via their site, but the content providers are strongarming Hulu. Mafia tactics at their finest.
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Miguel said 2:12PM on 3-07-2009
Hulu sucks
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mattmcb said 4:43PM on 3-07-2009
Does Hulu not provide an RSS feed? The whole thing is weird.
Try the best homepage
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afrosamurii said 4:25PM on 3-07-2009
F*&^ Hulu and its content providers. They are a bunch of stuck up rich bastards who thinks only for themselves and not US the consumers. We are the ones watching their stupid adds why cant we choose how we watch the videos. I only have one thing to say F#$% Hulu's content providers!!!!!!
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Eric H. said 12:50PM on 3-09-2009
Boxee was a great thing, but as long as Hulu allows fullscreening they will not stop me from watching it on my TV. Ive got my mac mini hooked up to my TV and I just use a wireless mouse and keyboard.
The problem with the studio execs is that they are all too old and they don't understand how the Internet or computers work. Most of them follow the mantra that the internet is a series of tubes and they are still waiting for "an internet" that was mailed to them last Monday.
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