Aw Shucks: Hulu Blocked On PS3 Web Browser
Watching Hulu on American PS3s was never the smoothest experience, but if you had the internet connection it was serviceable. Now appears the service has decided to take even those scraps away from us and is blocking the PS3's web browser from viewing videos on the site entirely.
As Engadget points out, if you change "a browser's user-string to match the console" you'll get the same message as PS3 owners:
Unfortunately, this video is not available on your platform.
If this is an intentional snubbing, the question is why? Perhaps Hulu is appeasing its content providers by trying to make sure people can only watch the site's videos on small laptop screens and computer monitors. Or maybe it was a request by Sony, who want to sell more video content though PSN. There's also the notion that the Hulu is just looking into separate licensing deals with each of the consoles. I mean, Microsoft or Sony announcing Hulu exclusivity would be a pretty big deal, especially as the service's offerings continue to expand.
It's probably not a great loss for most PS3 owners, and I personally only used it a handful of times, it's always a bit sad when the world gets a little less free and easy.
Hulu to PlayStation 3 browsers: "This video is not available on your platform" [Engadget]
[via: Kotaku]
[image via: FormatWarCentral.com]
Dawdle
Posted to Miscellany, Television on 27 June 2009
· Comments (8)
Other stuff like this: blocked, browser, hulu, ps3, sony, web
Correction: "Watching Hulu on American PS3s"
Never was available in Canada.
Never was available in many places. It should be a benefit of being american. Right when you become a citizen.
"I will be lavished with Hulu and Google Technology"
Private proxy servers are the best counter against this "your foreign brain cant handle this procession of images and lawsuit related material" legal stuff.
Private IPs make everyone happier... and no google tracking.
If some one in Micronesia wants to watch The Simpsons, they should watch the Simpsons.
@bundt,
Fixed.
The content providers have been fighting any option to watch Hulu on a TV. Not just the PS3.
@Llydis
Thats stupid.... I could very easily plug my pc into my 28" TV and use it as a monitor. Whats the difference if I use a PS3 instead?
The PS3 is a console, you know, not a PC and that's why it is a totally different beast. Yeah, you could even run Linux on it if you wish to, but you know, it's called a console, not PC!!
Makes sense, right? ;-)
It is stupid, but Hulu is dealing with media corporations who themselves are stupid when it comes to how things are distributed.
I remember they were discussing on TWiT how they've tried to block sling box from streaming Hulu a few times.