Hulu

Frequently we come across websites that are useful in business, and we share them with you. The website we would like to share this month is not business-related in any way. It is however, fairly impressive to my way of thinking. Click here for the full text.

First, a little background and context so that the website can be fully appreciated. Do you remember how computer users started sharing song files through various techniques, including Napster? As you remember, the RIAA came down very hard on those users, including starting lots of lawsuits for sharing copyrighted media. The RIAA did not take the lead and figure out new ways of distributing their media. They were not proactive, they were reactive. They were stuck in their old business model of selling whole-album CDs. Apple computer helped legitimize song downloads with the iPod, iTunes and the iTunes music store, built the infrastructure and designed the business model. This helped the RIAA and its artists adapt their business model to the new technology of the internet.

Flash forward a few years, add lots of new bandwidth and download speeds to the internet, and you get people thinking about ways to share video files. YouTube was born. However, there are some lawsuits pending against YouTube for hosting copyrighted materials. Sound familiar?

Fortunately however, Hulu.com was born last year to legitimately host and stream video files to users in the United States for free. This service is legal, and its content includes hit TV shows and movies from 50 content providers, including FOX, NBC Universal, MGM, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros. and more. It is an advertising supported model, and allows the content providers to control their media and benefit from their hard work. Thanks Hulu!