Hulu Copies Netflix With Kid-Friendly Section

Originally published on WebTVWire.com – a TV Technology blog.

Hulu Kids is a new dedicated section for children where Hulu will host commercial-free programming for younger generations. This is something Netflix introduced a while back, but for Hulu it’s a case of better late than never.

The Internet Generation

Children have always been avid television viewers. They’re also very open to new experiences, so many have switched to online options such as YouTube, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer much more quickly and readily than their parents.

This means that the online television portals have a need to cater to this younger generation of viewers, or risk losing them to the competition. With the online video sector still evolving, losing young viewers now could mean losing them for the longterm.

Netflix introduced a section named ‘Just For Kids‘ that is, unsurprisingly, just for kids, some time ago, and now Hulu has finally followed suit.

Hulu Kids

Hulu Kids is a section dedicated to the younger generation of television viewers. It can be found by pointing your browser at hulu.com/kids or by clicking on “Kids” in the Browse menu. Unfortunately Hulu Kids is only available to Hulu Plus subscribers, offering those willing to pay another advantage over their non-paying brethren.

All of the shows on Hulu Kids will be available without commercials, which will help avoid any impatient youngsters throwing their toys of their prams — perhaps literally — as they sit through countless ads.

Shows featured include Barney, Dinosaur Train, Arthur, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thomas & Friends, and Spongebob Squarepants. In all there are 43 different shows featured, though that number will surely rise over time.

Conclusions

It seems a shame that this whole section is being made available only to Hulu Plus subscribers, but then who can blame Hulu for purposely adding extra features to its paid offering when that is where a profitable future clearly lies.

I actually wouldn’t be surprised if the free element of Hulu were to disappear altogether at some point in the future, purely based on the decisions being made at the company in recent times.