NBC has relaunched its NBC Direct video download service. Honestly, ever since Hulu launched, I haven't thought much about NBC Direct, which I first covered back in 2007. There aren't any videos available from NBC Direct that you can't find on Hulu, and the clunky DRM and download application make NBC Direct much more difficult to use than the web based player.

Still, NBC Direct has two advantages over Hulu or other online video sites:

1. You can watch videos while you're not connected to the internet
2. Videos are available in high definition

There are a few caveats: The NBC Direct player is Windows only. Question number 1 in the FAQ is whether there are plans for a Mac version. NBC's answer? Use Boot Camp to install WIndows on your Mac. And while the videos you download look like normal FLV Flash video files, NBC uses DRM which means that videos will stop playing at some date in the future. And you can only watch videos on the computer you used to download them.

The downloads are pretty speedy. NBC uses peer to peer technology which you can off if you're willing to deal with "standard quality" videos instead of the "high quality" versions that are available to P2P users.
[via NewTeeVee]

Online video site Hulu emerges from private beta tomorrow. Of course, we'll forgive you if you didn't realize the service was in private beta. The site has given away thousands of invites, and users can easily embed videos on other sites, which has led to a cottage industry of Hulu cloning.

Over the past month, Hulu says its videos have been streamed over 5 million times, either from Hulu.com or from other sites, including Hulu clones and content partners like AOL and MSN.

When Hulu launched, it was basically a content distribution outlet for NBC and FOX. For the past few months,. Hulu has been busy signing additional content partnership deals, and tomorrow Hulu will add content from Warner Brothers, Lionsgate, and a whole slew of other networks and studios including sports content from the NBA and NHL.

All the content is professionally produced. Hulu ain't no YouTube clone, it's a place to watch full length movies and TV shows complete with 15 and 30 second advertisements. We've been checking it out during the private beta, and we've been pretty happy with the selection and video quality. We'd be a bit happier if Hulu would make entire seasons of TV programs available instead of just a few episodes at a time. But that would probably eat into DVD sales.

[via NewTeeVee]

We've been talking about Hulu a lot over the last few months. The online video site is a partnership between NBC and News Corp, and contrary to our expectations, it actually doesn't suck. The videos are high quality, there's not too much advertising, and most importantly, there are a ton of shows, both current and older that you actually might want to watch. Hulu also manages to avoid one of our pet peeves with many online video sites. If you're watching a video in full-screen mode, the screen doesn't shrink every time a commercial comes on.

The biggest problem with Hulu? It's still in private beta, meaning many people haven't been able to try it out yet. We can't give out an invite to everybody who wants one... but Hulu has given us invites for the first 2500 Download Squad readers who sign up.

Just visit our Hulu landing page, enter your email address, and you should be all set. And before people start complaining to us, yes we know, Hulu is only available to US residents at the moment. But those of you who are clever enough to know what a proxy server is might be able to get around this limitation one way or another.

NBC has launched a video download service. The network first announced its NBC Direct initiative in September, which left us scratching our heads a bit, seeing as the network also recently partnered with News Corp to launch Hulu, a free service for watching TV shows and movies from a web browser.

Still, you might not always have an internet connection handy, so a download service isn't a bad idea. Unfortunately, NBC Direct doesn't quite live up to our low expectations. We've put together a quick video look at the interface, (note that the video plays smoothly, but our screen capture software had a hard time keeping up), but here are the highlights (and lowlights):

Pros

1. The video quality is at least as good as anything you'll get see on Hulu (except the commercials, which seem to be encoded at a lower bitrate).
2. You can start watching videos shortly after you start your download. No need to wait for the download to finish.

Cons

1. You need to download and install the NBC Direct application in order to download and watch movies (although you can probably also watch them using Windows Media Player once they're downloaded).
2. The videos include Windows Media DRM, which means no Mac or Linux for you.
3. There's an extraordinarily limited selection available right now (You can choose from The Office, 30 Rock, Life, Bionic Woman, Friday Night Lights, and that's it).
4. Half the time when we login, the library is not available.
5. Shows are only available for one week after they air on TV (while you can find 5 weeks worth of shows on Hulu)
6. Once you click play, you have to finish watching your video within 48 hours or it will self destruct.
7. You can subscribe to a series to download all new episodes, but you have to visit NBC's web site to do this. You can't subscribe from the player, even though there's a button that makes it look like you can.

Overall, color us a bit less than impressed. At this rate, we'd pretty much rather pay $1.99 per episode to download the shows from Amazon or iTunes. NBC is calling this a beta, so we're going to hold onto some small bit of hope that some issues will be addressed. But we're not holding our breath.

[via Mashable]

Hulu has finally launched. And odds are you don't have access to it yet. The online video distribution service is a joint venture between NBC and News Corp, and as of today, it's open to anyone with an invitation. Hulu execs say for now, that just means a few thousand people.

We have to admit, we were a bit dubious when the companies announced they would be launching an online video portal. Why not just distribute their videos through an existing service like YouTube or Veoh? And can't you already watch most of these programs at NBC.com or Fox.com?

The truth of the matter is, Hulu is both a web site and a distribution platform. You can watch ad-supported videos at Hulu.com. The videos load in a Flash player, so you probably won't need to install any new software on your computer. And you can embed clips and full-length videos on your own site. Since the advertising stays intact, Hulu makes money no matter where people are watching the videos. Some of the ads will be overlays, while longer videos will likely have a limited number of interstitials, or what we like to think of as your classic commercial that comes on between TV episode segments.

Hulu will also be distributing videos through other portals like MSN Video and AOL Video. In fact, you can already find a handful of full-length TV shows from Hulu at AOL's site.

While you might think the service's 2 company pedigree means you can only watch a handful of videos like Prison Break, 24, Heroes, and Bionic Woman, those two companies produce a lot of video that wind up on other channels. For example, you can find Battlestar Galactica, Monk, Psych, and other shows that air on NBC-owned channels. And there's also a library of programming from the vault, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lost in Space, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There's also a limited number of movies available. You can check out complete lists of content from TechCrunch or NewTeeVee (PDF Link).

New episodes will probably stay on the site for about 5 weeks. It's not clear how long episodes of classic TV shows will be online. But that's what distinguishes Hulu from a good PVR or DVD player. It's more like video on demand, in that you're at the mercy of the programmers. If you decide you want to start watching a series from episode 1, by the time you get to episode 6, the first season may have been pulled off the site, forcing you to buy your downloads from iTunes, Amazon, or the DVD store.

Update: Thanks to Silicon Alley Insider, we got us some embed code. And it looks like once you embed the video on your site, you can access all kinds of other videos through the menu system. Check it out after the jump.

Update 2: And Hulu content is live on MSN Video.

[via TechCrunch]

Rumor has it that NBC and FOX are preparing to launch a private beta of their new online video site Hulu Monday. Or maybe Wednesday. TechCrunch reports that they've got a source who says it will definitely be sometime next week. Probably.

The timing would make sense. This weekend NBC pulled all of its (legally uploaded) content from YouTube. That move would seem to indicate that the network has a plan to offer up the same content somewhere else. And soon.

Silicon Alley Insider dug up a bit of information on Hulu's business model:

• NBC and News Corp are giving Hulu rights to "syndicate streamed, ad-supported NBC and News Corp TV entertainment video content."
  
• In other words, Hulu will be responsible for distributing video to sites like AOL and MSN. NBC and News Corp sites will, of course, be able to stream video of their own content as well
• Hulu is a streaming content site and has nothing to do with video downloads

We're still not entirely convinced that Hulu serves any real purpose for viewers. For the networks, sure, it looks like a great way to promote their content with clips, special features, and full-length streaming TV shows. Go to one site, and you can see content from two big networks. But without content from every network, we don't see why anyone would visit Hulu instead of NBC.com or Fox.com.

NBC has apparently killed its YouTube channel in a move that could indicate that the new NBC/News Corp venture Hulu will be launching soon.

NBC is taking a multi-pronged approach to online video. While you'll be able to watch clips and possibly full length videos on Hulu, the network also plans to launch an ad-supported download service. You can also pay to download NBC content from Amazon Unbox.

But we have to say, eliminating the YouTube channel seems like a bad idea. While Saturday Night Live clips including Lazy Sunday and (anatomical part) in a Box were huge hits on YouTube, the network probably got more publicity from the clips than YouTube.

The best way to drum up publicity for your TV programs and to generate online revenue from advertising/direct downloads is to offer up your content in as many places as possible -- especially the places where the eyeballs are already hanging out like YouTube. Hulu may or may not become a huge success. But millions of people are already using YouTube. And the site is making it easier and easier for content owners to monetize their videos. So why pull a sure thing in order to pave the way for an untested new service?

Pretty much every TV network and its sister offers up a way to watch popular shows for free online. Just hop on over to a network website and you'll find a way to watch recent episodes of everything from Heroes to Girlfriends. The episodes are typically free, but include advertising. And not an assortment of commercials like you get on broadcast TV. No, we're talking about a single ad which plays about 8 times per episode. Not that we have a problem with the repeated redundant repetition of a sponsor's message.

You can also download many of the same shows for a fee from services like iTunes and Amazon Unbox. But NBC is preparing to launch a new service that's a combination of the two. NBC Direct will let you download videos to your computer for free. They'll include advertising, and you'll only be able to watch for up to a week after a program's original air date. But you can download a video and watch it on the go when you don't have an active internet connection. No buffering needed. It actually sounds a bit like the BBC's iPlayer.

The move is a little surprising. Or at least the timing is. NBC recently announced that it was terminating its contract to sell movies through Apple's iTunes service. But the company struck a deal to offer shows through Amazon Unbox. The new download service could eat into revenue from Unbox video sales. Perhaps the network is hoping that advertising can be more profitable than video sales.

NBC is also working with News Corp to launch a new online video service called Hulu. While it's not entirely clear whether Hulu will feature full length episodes or just video clips and exclusive content, it now seems like NBC is a bit all over the place when it comes to its streaming/downloadable media strategy. But since nobody quite knows what the future holds for the medium, maybe it's not a bad idea to have all the bases covered.

Remember the big knock down drag out fight between Apple and NBC? You know, the one that ended with NBC deciding to sell downloads of all its shows through Amazon Unbox instead of iTunes?

Yeah, well the upshot of that fight was that NBC and Amazon have struck a deal to let you download the pilot episodes of 4 of their new shows for free. Starting today. A couple of weeks before they premiere on TV.

Here's the list of shows you can get for free:

• Bionic Woman
• Chuck
• Journeyman
• Life

You'll need to install the Amazon Unbox player to watch these videos. And they'll be in Windows Media Video format. But did we mention they're free? Obviously this is a promotional stunt where NBC is trying to drum up interest in their new shows, and Amazon is trying to get attention for its download service. But after suffering through the wasteland that is summer TV, we don't really care.

Apple's number one seller has apparently just cancelled its contract to sell digital downloads of their shows via iTunes.

NBC Universal was unable to come to an agreement with Apple on pricing, bundling content and more restrictive DRM. This move is yet another grinding moment between Apple and the media companies who are unhappy with Apple for not giving them greater control over the pricing of music and videos it sells through iTunes. Could this just have been a way for them to finally jump over to NewCo (Hulu), their YouTube competition?

NBC has accounted for 40% of downloads on Apple's iTunes, and will continue sales through to December. Apple is now the third largest seller of music, passing Amazon, and just behind Wal-Mart and Best Buy. Say bye bye to your most important way of marketing new products to consumers NBC.

UPDATE: Apple beat NBC to the punch and will not be selling any NBC material starting in September.

NBC and News Corp are getting ready to answer an age old question: do people really go to YouTube to watch user-uploaded videos of cats doing stupid things or to watch illegally uploaded snippets of The Colbert Report?

The two networks are teaming up to launch a YouTube competitor that will focus primarily on professional content including content from NBC and News Corp shows. Today, the new site got a name: Hulu. As an acronym, it doesn't seem to stand for anything, but it's "short, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and rhymes with itself." Because that's what we've been looking for in an online video site.

Hulu is currently accepting e-mail addresses of anyone interested in signing up for a private beta, which is set to launch in October.

It's a fact that NBC doesn't think much of YouTube and is out to build a competing company, will they succeed? Who knows, but one thing for sure is that they are extremely late to the game.

Didja.com, the giant cable company weapon will basically begin hosting commercials early next year. Simple fact of it all, NBC is expecting to make tons of cash showing advertisements for large brands that upload commercials and product offers to branded pages. People like to watch YouTube videos, and that includes the numerous ads and trailers that are submitted. Will viewers really flock to a social networking advertainment website that plays online commercials 24-7.

Are we not bombarded with ads enough in our daily lives? Do we actually need a location where we are hit with them from all angles?

[via TechCrunch]

No one has filed a lawsuit against VeohTV yet, but it could just be a matter of time. The service is something of a cross between YouTube and Joost, giving you the ability to surf for online videos without using a web browser.

The problem is that many of those videos don't come from Veoh, but from sources like NBC, CBS, and YouTube. That includes full length streaming episodes of shows like 24, Heroes, and 30 Rock. And Veoh doesn't ask for permission to distribute those videos.

The company's argument is interesting. Since the networks and other sites are streaming these episodes for free, Veoh says all its VeohTV player does is provide a new interface for streaming the content. Any video advertising included by the content owner remains intact.

But NBC and YouTube officials tell the New York Times that they're not too happy with the service. If viewers can access their videos without going to their web sites, they lose out on potential advertising revenue. So either Veoh's going to have to work out licensing agreements with content owners, or we're going to see this battle headed to court. Unless of course Veoh fails to make a dent in the marketplace. Then we doubt anyone will really care. VeohTV is still in private beta.

Both NBC and Disney's ABC Family Channel are adding social aspects to their websites. Disney plans to test a new "watch and chat" feature that will let viewers watch video on the ABC Family Channel website while chatting with other viewers.

On Monday night, users will be able to watch the season finale of Wildfire about an hour after the program broadcasts on the ABC Family Channel. Up to 10 people can share a chat room and write about the show as it's being watched. Members of the chat room can pause, rewind, and fast-forward the video.

NBC, on the other hand is going social in another way, by letting users create profiles, find friends who like the same shows, upload photos and videos etc. We're going to assume they won't look to kindly on users who upload copyrighted video content.

[via The Disney Blog]

While Viacom's strategy toward YouTube has been to sue the online video company for copyright infringement, NBC and News Corp (parent company of Fox) are trying to beat YouTube at its own game.

The LA Times reports the two companies are preparing a new site that will feature clips of NBC and Fox programs, including Heroes, 24, The Office, and Family Guy. Clips would be available through the site and would also be available for distribution by Yahoo!, AOL, MySpace, and Microsoft. The companies also plan to sell downloaded content from Fox and Universal Pictures. There's also a possibility that other content owners could jump on the bandwagon.

The big question will be whether this strategy can put a dent in Google/YouTube's dominance of online video. If the networks were simply setting up their own site, we'd be dubious. But partnering with companies like Yahoo! and AOL makes a lot of sense. While trying to drive traffic to a new site is tough, providing content to sites that are already popular is a great way to control the distribution of your material.

[via Tech Crunch]