So Have You Heard of Hulu?

By Kenneth | Aug 30, 2007

If not, that’s alright…because not many people did since they just named it probably recently. Hulu is the new name for an online video joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corp (FOX). Basically, they’re following in the footsteps of other major online video sites like YouTube, AOL, Yahoo, etc. with the intent of streaming on-demand full-length shows like 24, Prison Break, The Simpsons, The Office, My Name is Earl and Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader.

Why did they name a site Hulu when it obviously has no connection to online video, News Corp. NBC Universal, or anything else to tie it in with its purpose? Well because it’s a catchy name, that’s why! The Hulu website says…

Objectively, Hulu is short, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and rhymes with itself. Subjectively, Hulu strikes us as an inherently fun name, one that captures the spirit of the service we’re building. Our hope is that Hulu will embody our (admittedly ambitious) never-ending mission, which is to help you find and enjoy the world’s premier content when, where and how you want it.

So they selected it because it rhymes with itself? Let’s think about this…Hulu and Lulu? Okay, maybe they’re banking on that it’s short, easy to spell, and pronounce.

However, the brand name “Hulu” is supposed to envoke the spirit of FUN and that’s what you’re supposed to get when you come to the site and start viewing online videos of your favorite shows. I suppose its fun to sit in front of your computer and start watching 30 minutes to an hour long shows from episodes you’ve missed…

To give them the benefit of the doubt, they’re still young and you can sign up to be a part of their private beta testing be providing an e-mail address for their “internal” use and help provide them feedback so they can grow. They’re also going to be providing “additional programming” through their sister sites like AOL, Comcast, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo so the Internet will be flooded by FOX and NBC shows wherever you turn.

Is it an advertisers goldmine?

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