Hulu to PS3 users: 'Naw, son!'

by Xav de Matos { Jun 29th 2009 at 12:00AM }

Yesterday morning, PlayStation 3 owners discovered access to Hulu was no longer functioning through the console's Internet browser. According to Engadget, PS3 users of the video content provider were treated with an apologetic error message, citing the desired content was not available on their "platform" of choice. Engadget is quick to point out that, while Hulu's recent Terms of Service changes make no mention of the console, changing an Internet browser's user-string to match the console reveals it is specifically being targeted. Conspiracy theories? Throw them in the comments below while we try to clear up this cloudy situation.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Image Credit: FormatWarCentral.com]

Tags: error, hulu, internet-browser, video

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Lithgow @ Jun 29th 2009 12:09AM

Just use a media server such as TVersity, guys. It runs smoother and makes navigation more simple. Very cool with hulu, crunchyroll, and now youtube now that they started their "shows" tab.

Godmars @ Jun 29th 2009 3:14AM

Media servers are a good fix, but I literally got finished setting up a line to my router and PS3 to make a more stable connection. For the actual day it was working - yeah, I was watching Hulu often before this sh*t - it was just as good as using Playon.

Longhorn of Myon [PSN: MariusElijah] @ Jun 29th 2009 12:11AM

I would have thought by now we would have a response from Hulu or Sony

PN04 @ Jun 29th 2009 6:58PM

Hulu was never very good on the PS3 browser though, it would constantly freeze up when I used it, eventually I just gave up and started using my laptop. they may have made some changes that block out browers that arent suited to their content.

Feba @ Jun 29th 2009 12:13AM

This is where you hook a PC up to your TV.

Or just download all of your shows and then transfer the files to your PS3. There's no reason to tolerate actions like this; if they're available in a region, they have no reason to discriminate based on hardware.

Roto13 @ Jun 29th 2009 1:27AM

Yeah, I just download 'em. But that's partially because I live in Canada. :P

Tim Parsons @ Jun 29th 2009 2:08AM

ya Roto13 know the feeling lol. sucks when you have an HD tv service and yet you gotta download shows to see them in HD cuz no Canadian channel airs it in HD and can't get the American channels that do.

U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Jun 29th 2009 7:05AM

I typically download all my shows, movies etc commercial free. This was an option that saved me the hassle of the download if I wanted to watch something, like for example The Late Show etc. It was worth it to sit through the commercials they were able to sell for that convenience. Now that they have decided to do this, I will simply go back to downloading and enjoying the same shows on my same "platform" commercial free.

Bill$ @ Jun 29th 2009 7:36PM

seriously.. why are people crying like its the end of the world?? there are MUCH BETTER sites out there that do the same thing as hulu and run way smoother on the ps3.. oh did i mention they have a bigger library than hulu? my favorite site is blinkx.com.. greatest site ever (eventhough some of their shows are hosted on megavideo) .. but anyways.. blinkx is usually good with new shows and even old school shows + LOTS of anime. lol i sound like an advertizer.i dont watch tv much .. only a few shows.. but i really dont like to download things that ill only watch once.. thats where my trusty ps3 browser comes in play.. hulu aint isht to me.

Shadow_Modder @ Jun 29th 2009 12:22AM

http://playstation.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/joost-launches-ps3-video-site/

Well, isn't the Joost site similar to Hulu? I haven't tried it on my PS3, so I don't know...

Gerry @ Jun 29th 2009 12:38AM

F**ken Xbots.

Alphathon @ Jun 29th 2009 6:26AM

@Stormtrooper: Actually it's an abreviation of IBM Compatible PC, an old term from back in the day. Sure, PC is used interchangably with Windows PC and even computers that run Linux, but still...

Alphathon @ Jun 29th 2009 6:27AM

Oops. Replied to the wrong post. Blame the Joystiq comment system!

Masterofallz @ Jun 29th 2009 12:50AM

**** Microsoft. If they seriously did this, I am going to throw my PC out and get a Mac. They look and work better anyways.

lobotomies4free @ Jun 29th 2009 12:53AM

Grew up with PCs. Loving my macbook

arrness @ Jun 29th 2009 1:04AM

same

RPMd70 @ Jun 29th 2009 1:28AM

@lobotomies4free

Same here. I dumped my (then) "most awesomest gamer rig" for a much smoother, sleeker, and uber sexy Mac. I don't need to game online anymore, that's what the consoles are for.

stormtrooper190 PSN= (im not telling you that) @ Jun 29th 2009 3:56AM

what do you think "PC" stands for, microsoft computer? a mac is as much a "PC" as a windows computer is!

Alphathon @ Jun 29th 2009 6:27AM

@Stormtrooper: Actually it's an abreviation of IBM Compatible PC, an old term from back in the day. Sure, PC is used interchangably with Windows PC and even computers that run Linux, but still...

Nate @ Jun 29th 2009 8:59AM

why pirate windows? just use ubuntu. I grew up on windows, switched to mac, and now I play all my computer games through ubuntu. I'm actually finding that WINE is often better because it keeps backwards compatibility really well. I can still play win95 games on it just fine, as well as newer games like oblivion and spore - and the OS just won't become obsolete like all of the mac OS's and windows OS's.

Yort @ Jun 29th 2009 12:57AM

Just saw this tonight as my wife and I were trying to catch up on Chuck before next season. Now not only am I, the gamer/techie, pissed, but now they've pissed of my wife (the type of person who would buy the types of things they advertise between segments). Brilliant move!

Parasite @ Jun 29th 2009 1:07AM

if the rumors about 360 tryin to get hulu were true, then they probably made a case about how (MS) bein charged for access to hulu on the 360(if that is indeed the case) and ps3 owners having free access to it is a lil on the unfair side. hulu, being owned by companies who are in the business of making money probably agreed and thought why not charge sony for access to their network. not only that but it might also be similar to what sony did to 360 netflix users...hulu is after all the brain child of nbc universal and fox entertainment group among others.

All speculation of course but...far fetched?

Nate @ Jun 29th 2009 9:01AM

far-fetched for one reason - they don't charge computer users. Otherwise Microsoft i known for such conspiracies, so very plausible.

Doghunt00 @ Jun 29th 2009 1:07AM

maybe this could point to possible plans for hulu on ps3 later on cause this has no point other wise oh and how do xbots control hulu people?

j.howlett @ Jun 29th 2009 1:15AM

i'm thinking it's a licence issue

Darren Tilley @ Jun 29th 2009 1:30AM

Every time I used it to view the Colbert Report on my PS3, the ads would never work, instead I would get a message telling me to remove any adblocking software in order to support Hulu. The show would continue as normal after this message, but I'm sure Hulu aren't that happy with people being able to watch the shows without actually seeing the few ads they actually do serve.

Don't really know for sure, but that's my best guess.

f23ghost @ Jun 29th 2009 1:40AM

i could care less. the ps3 browser sucks anyway. (make a deal with firefox hint hint)! here use this, download whatever you want and set your pc as a server to the ps3 with this free and (legal) program.

http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/

Extinction @ Jun 29th 2009 2:10AM

"(make a deal with firefox hint hint)"

Don't be stupid. Install FF if you want it, Sony lets you.

But the XMB-web browser must stay the way it is. It's a microbrowser and uses very little resources so games can use it. FF, doesn't.

Vidikron @ Jun 29th 2009 4:04AM

"Don't be stupid. Install FF if you want it, Sony lets you."

What? You mean after installing Linux? I'm pretty sure he's just saying he wants a more capable browser... I doubt he wants to go through the hassle of installing a new OS just to get there.

dw808303 @ Jun 29th 2009 8:11AM

Firefox is utterly unsuited to limited-memory embedded devices like the PS3. You have a much better chance of seeing a Webkit based browser on the platform than Firefox.

Tim Parsons @ Jun 29th 2009 1:46AM

I torrent movies and just watch em via Media Server and Windows Media Player,. TVersity sucks compared to, but I use as a Last resort for the very rare files that my PS3 won't play natively.

davebo @ Jun 29th 2009 1:57AM

Well since MS and NBC are partners I can't say I'm terribly surprised by this. However just a few days ago I read an article about how ad time for hulu on some shows has just become more expensive (per thousand viewers) than on broadcast tv. If they truly are making good money based on the number of people who use it, why would they want to limit that? Or are they just correctly assuming that anyone with a PS3 hooked up to the internet probably has internet access through a computer too?

luvstarg8sg_1 @ Jun 29th 2009 2:02AM

The internet has been around so long that you would think the media would have learned "if you won't give it to us we will torrent it" Also there are other websites like surfthechannel that have a better selection and still work on the PS3

Tim Parsons @ Jun 29th 2009 2:13AM

Streaming shows and stuff sucks though, Personally I don't like Hulu anyway. I just torrent shows and watch em on my PS3 via Windows Media Player Media Server nothing simpler.

Nobledevil @ Jun 29th 2009 2:25AM

I bought the PlayOn media server months ago, and after testing it a couple minutes ago it still works perfectly with Hulu.

PlayOn is $30 I think, but you'll be able to watch a faster, more responsive version of Hulu, not to mention Netflix, Amazon VOD, and a handful of other services I don't bother paying attention to.

juliusdeane (Jarret) @ Jun 29th 2009 3:27AM

I just got PlayOn for $20. Netflix, Hulu, Xbox Live, etc., I don't need your help, kthxbai.

lord84bob @ Jun 29th 2009 3:51AM

This is similar to what they have done in the past with other services, IE boxie. They have agreements with the cable companies to block services that have the primary purpose of running hulu on the television. They do this because they think that by watching hulu on your tv you will cancel your cable. It has nothing to do with Microsoft, and everything to do with the partnership of the cable companies and the networks that own hulu. It sucks but it's not that surprising.

sigmapispider @ Jun 29th 2009 4:05PM

wth?? I don't get credit for pointing this out? I pointed it out after the update....well w.e.
I'm just pissed that I can't access hulu..

Wormsign @ Jun 29th 2009 4:37AM

If you still really want to access it from your PS3, you can just install linux on it. Not too much work, if you really want hulu from the couch with the PS3.

Nuclear Chauffeur @ Jun 29th 2009 5:00AM

Maybe to keep people from recording the shows to DVD or videotape? Then again, you can just as easily record the shows on a pc using CamStudio or HyperCam.

lsutiger988 @ Jun 29th 2009 7:05AM

LMAO at the caption

il_duce620 @ Jun 29th 2009 9:03AM

Hulu's really starting to piss me off. First they cut off Boxee, and now the PS3. If they really want to limit or stop pirating of NBC/FOX television shows, they're going to need to make their content MORE available, not LESS...

Jon D @ Jun 29th 2009 9:16AM

TB external HDD + PS3 Media Server = problem solved. Hulu sucks anyways,

mirage @ Jun 29th 2009 9:43AM

I don't use a media server as my computers suck. That said, Hulu sucked ass on my ps3 and was a complete waste of time anyways. I do hope this means that it will be added as a "free" service to xbox gold members. If it works well I would be really happy. :)

chip5541 @ Jun 29th 2009 10:13AM

If it wasn't for House I wouldn't give a crap.

Eric E @ Jun 29th 2009 10:32AM

HULU is getting crap from comcast/TWC/Optimum Online/Verizon ETC Because they're scared, they dont want people using it on TV's.

Im pretty sure they are to blame. They've been making networks pull content from hulu with threats for a while now.

screw them anyway im ready to ditch cable if it weren't for live baseball games (CONGRATS MO 500th Save, 1st RBI!)

WHY DO THE FUC KING COMMENTS SUCK SO BAD, WHY DO I HAVE TO HIT BACK AND RE-SUBMIT 500 TIMES.

Heavytoka @ Jun 29th 2009 10:34AM

I'll just use Hulu desktop and connect my PC to my TV. It does suck though that it isn't working anymore.

cmhayes @ Jun 29th 2009 11:34AM

I was so crushed when I found out yesterday, I must have clicked on everyshow on hulu to make sure it was just the link. This is a dark day for hulu/ps3 owners.

Mo @ Jun 29th 2009 1:42PM

oh whatever... i download whole seasons in HD put em on a usb stick and im good to go...

they do themselves a diservice... not a fan of ads, in any way shape or form. Hulu is alright if i NEED to stream, but they just put a BIG one in the list of CONS