No Hulu in Canada? Pity...

Published December 21, 2009 @ 09:31 in Technology, Television

I'm bumping into embedded Hulu clips more often in the blogosphere. Hulu is a website that offers ad-supported streaming video of TV shows and movies from NBC, FOX and many other networks and studios. The quality is great, and because it's a legal channel, you never have to worry that the SNL skit you embedded in your blog might be pulled by the end of the day thanks to a copyright claim by NBC.

When Brittany Murphy died yesterday, several American bloggers posted a recent parody of her that aired on Saturday Night Live. Here in Canada, this is what we see:

That's right, Hulu isn't available in Canada. Apparently, the licensing issues were so complex they couldn't get a deal done. So we're out of the loop.

I see ad-supported high quality tv show and news streaming as the future of television. Hulu seems to be getting it right. I just wish I could see what all the fuss is about.

8 Responses to "No Hulu in Canada? Pity..."

Jeremy
December 21, 2009 / 10:18

It annoys the hell out of me too. Why Canadian broadcasters and cable companies (who I assume are holding up Hulu's Canadian debut) can't see the light amazes me.

Embrace the new tech or watch as people go and get it for free illegally.

Mike from Lowville
December 21, 2009 / 11:50

Believe it or not, if you have AOL as a provider, you can get Hulu. AOL thinks your in the States.

Anone
December 21, 2009 / 12:47

Unbelievable in this day. No reason to block what we'd get otherwise from our Cable subscriptions. One day they'll realize that this Internet thing expands beyond the US.
There are ways to get around the block, with Hotspot shield's, FreeVPN and the like, but they eventually catch on and block those too.

Pat
December 21, 2009 / 13:02

Howabout a US Proxy?

Dizzy
December 21, 2009 / 13:11

I've tried various proxy servers, but for the life of me, I can't get on Hulu. It really sucks, but eh.

elvis
December 21, 2009 / 15:27

Doesn't your Gemini give you any pull at all?

Tee
December 21, 2009 / 17:48

You might be able to get that video off Global's site, but it's a bitch to find clips there.

Tevy
December 22, 2009 / 17:14

Mike,
http://hotspotshield.com/ will solve your "we're sorry...only be streamed within the US" problem. (And no they're not sorry.