http://www.pressthebuttons.com/2009/07/hulu-forced-to-block-ps3-web-browser.html---------------------------
The Sony PlayStation 3's web browser isn't a replacement for a real PC browser, but it has its uses. One such use was to stream television episodes and movies from Hulu, a hub of ad-supported programming from various studios and networks including FOX, NBC Universal, ABC, and others. Up until recently it was possible to watch Hulu content on your actual television via the PS3's web browser, but apparently the studios and networks don't like people watching their content in this manner, so Hulu has been forced to block the PS3 browser from its service. Understandably, PS3 users are not happy about this. Gizmodo has the reprinted Hulu's statement on the matter. Here's a piece of it:
For decades, the TV/movie industry has built its business model on a windowing strategy. Content rights are granted for limited time periods across specific distribution channels. For example, a movie starts in theaters, then moves to pay-per-view and DVD, then to pay-cable channels, later to broadcast, and so on down the line. Similarly, TV shows are available on TV first, then in repeats,then to DVD and possibly syndication, etc.
Distribution availability across platforms — theaters vs. TV vs. recorded media like DVDs vs. online streaming vs. mobile phones — was always implicitly or explicitly controlled in that world. But a few factors have made the barriers between those platforms more permeable: the rise of the web, increased broadband availability, the ease of digitizing video, and the increase in the computing power of devices like gaming consoles, set-top boxes, and mobile phones.<snip>
http://www.pressthebuttons.com/2009/07/hulu-forced-to-block-ps3-web-browser.html"Well, I get pissed goddammit!!!!" - George Carlin