Is Hulu About to Bite the Dust?

Hulu, a name infamous for helping bring an end to traditional TV viewing and for those Alec Baldwin commercials, seems to be facing some trouble as of late.  A recent internal memo leaked to various press outlets reports that Hulu might be in for some big (and not so viewer-pleasent) changes.

The online streaming company has been vary touch and go in the press for years now, with industry experts seeming to predict its demise every other month.  But up to this point, Hulu has hung on based probably on its cult-like viewers scrambling to watch their favorite shows.

So what is the problem over at Hulu?
After Hulu got noticed around 2009, News Corp. (parent of Fox), Disney, and NBC Universal invested in the company.  The main reason for the investment being supplemental income from next day viewers and a way do legally distribute content online.  Fast forward to today...   NBC, Fox, and ABC (of whom Disney is the parent company) now all have their own online viewing platforms and apps for tablets and smartphones.  But Hulu is still hanging in their based on the contracts they already have and the fact that another major investment party, Providence Equity Partners.  Some of the stipulations that Hulu still retains from the networks include next day airing of major shows, back catalogs of entire series, etc.

But coming soon in September, Providence Equity Partners is being bought out by the remaining investors.  This translates to all the networks owning the major share in Hulu.  This also means big changes are most likely coming to Hulu created by the networks.
Examples include:

Allowing the networks to license content to other parties.  No more content exclusivity.

Content Filtering.  Networks can now pick and choose which content to distinguish their own sites from Hulu.

Fox wants at least 4 commercials per break online.

NBC cannot vote or participate in any changes to the site as part of the agreement made by Comcast to buy the network.

Only time will tell if Hulu will continue to evolve into the new form of television, but in my opinion, this is one huge step backward, making the .com more like regular television, which already sucks.

Networks!  Please leave our internet alone!

Read More @ Variety
Read More @ Gizmodo

Album Title Goes Here

The new title of the upcoming album from Deadmau5, aka Joel Zimmerman.  Deadmau5 has been incredibly busy in his short career from DJing the Grammy's, to launching Skrillex's quick rise to fame, to becoming one of the highest paid DJ's in the world.  Deadmau5 has done it all, even playing the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, his native Canada.

Deadmau5 playing to a large crowd after the closing ceremonies.

Deadmau5 is known for being very transparent to his fans.  He often broadcasts his recording sessions and does live Q&A on his website for dedicated followers.  Deadmau5 is also known for getting into trouble.  Several times over his career, he has stood up and told the truth about the Electronic Dance Music DJs and has come under fire for admitting that 'anyone can do it' and that it doesn't take much talent to do what most DJs do.

Deadmau5 unmasked

To his fans, Deadmau5 is known for rocking the geek culture.  In fact, his trademark name comes from the tech world.  The story goes that Joel took a broken computer into a repair shop.  When the techs opened up the computer to repair it, there was a dead mouse in the housing.  The name stuck.  "Hey, it's that dead mouse guy!"

Deadmau5' live shows are something unique.  His light show and live production style are known to be highlights of the festival season.  Why?  His ingenious use of self written software for live performance and teaming up with the same show designers who have worked with Daft Punk back when they were still touring.  

Deadmau5' signature LED cube

Deadmau5' LED "Mau5 Head"

Read More @ Fact Mag

Visit Deadmau5' website @ Deadmau5.com