ABC Learns to Hulu

By James Poniewozik | @poniewozik | July 6, 2009 | +

ABC’s deal with Hulu begins today, starting with episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and continuing with new series unrolling throughout the month. And it’s about time. ABC still makes its series available through ABC.com, but I’ve always been irritated by that sites insistence on making me click to continue watching after the 30-second ads, and its sometimes hesitant video. (Though the latter may be partly or entirely a function of my computer’s processing speed, or lack thereof.) Also, I can now do this:

Not that I have anything to say about Izzy’s heart-wrenching situation. But I can do it! Now somebody get The Goode Family and Better Off Ted on Hulu, pronto.

Related Topics: abc, online video, Uncategorized

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Rorschach

We need Lost on this immediately. I can’t stand the ABC player… I agree completely. And my computer is pretty elite but there’s still a four second hitch coming in and out of ‘commercials’ which I have blocked anyway but I still have to wait for the timer. And then you have to get up and click “Play” again after each one. Don’t they know I’m lazy?
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Hulu ads I never block. Rant over.
Joel

It is about time, you’re right. That was really bothering me for a while.
Chaddogg

Now we just need CBS on board…..I personally find it disgraceful that I can’t stream “The Mentalist” ANYWHERE online legally — not even on CBS.com!
intangiblefancy

There’s an option to auto-continue after commercials tucked away in the setting for the ABC player.
Chaddogg

By the way, Hulu also offers 2 full seasons (the only 2? I’m not sure) of Dead Like Me, which is pretty phenomenal if you ask me. (For Pushing Daisies fans, Dead Like Me was created/executive produced by Bryan Fuller, and you get a lot of his great touches in the show…)
ferociouswalrus

re Chaddogg: There are only 2 seasons of “Dead Like Me”, though they later did a sort of sequel movie. I agree it is a great show.

As for the ABC player, you are not alone, I have always had trouble with it. I think one of the biggest reasons Hulu’s been successful compared to others is that their technology actually works. As for CBS… there has been more than one show that I would have followed had it been on Hulu or some similar site but have not done so due to CBS’ lack of an online presence.
Rorschach

Thanks, intangiblefancy
shara says

@Chaddog, ferociouswalrus: I really liked Dead Like Me, but thought that the wrap-up movie was pretty bad. I liked the closure with her family, but thought that all the supporting characters stories’ (and, um, personalities) got seriously shortchanged. And WTF with replacing Daisy(, Daisy) Adair with an obnoxious hussy?
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Glad ABC is on board with Hulu. I’d love for CBS to get with the game as well. I haven’t seen any Big Bang Theory since S1.