Canadians now screwed for Hulu

[Hack&Lube]

It appears that Hulu is detecting Hotspotshield's IP address now so Canadians can't watch Hulu. Any ideas for alternatives to be able to watch Hulu?

[Kybosh]

I watch shows on TV. It's worked great for years!

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

It appears that Hulu is detecting Hotspotshield's IP address now so Canadians can't watch Hulu. Any ideas for alternatives to be able to watch Hulu?

It's been a game of cat and mouse for 6 months now, I've stopped trying to keep up. Wait for an update, install, use it for a few days and then wait for the next update.

I just straight up steal it if I can't watch legally. Eff 'em.

[Russic]

It's such an inconsistent system of hoop jumping trying to keep up with what works and what doesn't. Stealing the content unfortunately is the obvious alternative.

[QuadCityImages]

I hate to say it, but I wish they'd add MORE commercials to Hulu if that's what it takes for the money angle to work out. I'm already getting the benefit of watching shows on my schedule, why do I also need the benefit of 15 second commercials?

I've spent up to an hour looking for "other means" to download shows that aren't on Hulu, and the whole time I'm thinking "Man, think how many commercials I could have watched for them during this time, but no, now I'm getting the show for free."

Also, it sucks that you guys can't watch it.

[Azure]

FreeVPN.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Azure

FreeVPN.

May work for awhile, then not, then work again, then not....

[ericschand]

Try this.

ers

[Jimmy Stang]

Although I'm not going to defend the entertainment industry's slow movement on opening up digital content in Canada, most of the main networks have video players with a bunch of shows on there that you can view on demand.

This is frustrating, however. Even things like using Netflix to rent a movie over my PS3 - not available in Canada. So I'm willing to "pay" for my content, whether it be by watching some Hulu ads, or straight up dollars for an online movie rental, and it simply isn't available. And the industry wonders why people seek out torrents...

[Table 5]

Not to poke fun at an injured animal, but watching Netflix over the PS3 is absolutely awesome. Their watch-it now library is not super huge, but the convenience more than makes up for it....there's always something to pick from anyway.

This really is the future of movie/tv watching....as good and fast regular Netflix service is, being able to pick from a massive library and instantly watch movies in seconds is about as good as it gets for the impulsive tv watcher.

[Buzzard]

^ Whoaaa....wait a minute. I've obviously been missing out on something here!! Netflix on ps3?? How do I go about doing this?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

^ Whoaaa....wait a minute. I've obviously been missing out on something here!! Netflix on ps3?? How do I go about doing this?

If you're in Canada, you can't. The US folk can rent movies over the internet, although at this point it requires using a free "streaming disc" for the software. It is anticipated that it'll be included in a system software update at some point.

If you've got a US address, credit card, IP address, etc. you could probably do it though. But anything less than all of that I would imagine that you'd be blocked.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Not to poke fun at an injured animal, but watching Netflix over the PS3 is absolutely awesome. Their watch-it now library is not super huge, but the convenience more than makes up for it....there's always something to pick from anyway.

This really is the future of movie/tv watching....as good and fast regular Netflix service is, being able to pick from a massive library and instantly watch movies in seconds is about as good as it gets for the impulsive tv watcher.

Jerk. It certainly is the future... it is too bad that Canada lags to far behind in terms of access to digital entertainment. Like I said, I'd gladly pay for it.

I have thought about trying zip.ca which is a mail order DVD rental place like the traditional Netflix. But I'm not an avid movie watcher, so I'd probably have the disc sitting there for a couple of weeks before watching it. And, inevitably, I'll be in the mood for something different when I do decide to sit down and watch something.

Just let me sit, click, and watch, dammit!

Shaw on Demand (by our local cable company) is not bad, but they want $8 or so to rent a HD movie... Yes - I'm a bit cheap!

[dj_patm]

I'd rather look at that blank Hulu screen that put up with the STUPID survey to unlock things.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

If you're in Canada, you can't. The US folk can rent movies over the internet, although at this point it requires using a free "streaming disc" for the software. It is anticipated that it'll be included in a system software update at some point.

The disk thing is a non-issue to me... popping a disk into the player every time you want to watch is pretty easy, so considering it's a Free service (beyond the regular subscription), I don't mind. You can also use Netflix over a 360, but there you have to pay a $50 membership to access Xbox Live.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Although I'm not going to defend the entertainment industry's slow movement on opening up digital content in Canada, most of the main networks have video players with a bunch of shows on there that you can view on demand.

I try that route first. However, I have not been able to find a legal source for some shows (e.g., The Simpsons) here in Canada at all. Globaltv.com doesn't carry it.

Some networks, such as Global, only carry the past couple episodes. In the case of The Office, they usually only have the last two or three episodes and only then if they've recently aired. I wanted to watch the last Christmas episode of The Office and it was not available on Global likely because it aired a few weeks ago.

CTV doesn't seem to have that same problem. I think they had the entire series of Mad Men up there for your viewing pleasure. The Comedy Network, a network affiliated with CTV, carries all of the episodes of South Park uncensored on their website. Their library is pretty large.

[Jimmy Stang]

^ You're quite right. CTV does a decent job with their content. Others? Not so much.

I wonder if the cable companies will every pick up the slack and provide on demand services for TV. I know that Shaw has a few titles, but it is far from comprehensive. I have heard the same criticism for Rogers.

If you're paying for a monthly cable bill, it would be nice to able to browse through a list of popular shows and check some out. I guess that's kind of what a PVR is for...

Of course, the entertainment industry (whether it be movies, music, or TV) kind of relies on people paying multiple times for the same content.

[Coys1882]

Does the CRTC have anything to do with this? Being able to monitor the amount of Canadian Television being streamed sounds like something they'd like to have their fingers in. Same reason we can't get DirectTV isn't it?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Does the CRTC have anything to do with this? Being able to monitor the amount of Canadian Television being streamed sounds like something they'd like to have their fingers in. Same reason we can't get DirectTV isn't it?

As I understand it, it has more to do with the rights being sold to a Canadian network. Allowing Canadians to access Hulu would kind of undermine the dollars spent to acquire that content as the ad revenue would go to the US providers and not to the Canadian company that paid for the Canadian rights.

Of course, if Hulu knows that we're Canadian and can block our IP from viewing content, they can surely track Canadian views and compensate the Canadian rights holders accordingly, couldn't they? Probably a gross oversimplification though...

Edit: And what I'd really like access to is the BBC iPlayer...

[Sainters7]

Hasn't it been like that for awhile now? I recall getting a message like that when I tried to watch a Hulu vid back in the summer.