What's with you, Hulu?
June 25, 2015 8:54 PM   Subscribe

Did the amount of ads shown during Hulu Plus shows suddenly double or triple? I could swear we were only getting 30-45 seconds of ads at a time during shows. Now, it seems like we get 90 seconds worth and at more regular intervals. Did I imagine this? If it is happening, is it happening everywhere? Or could they have been tamping down my ads while I was a new subscriber and then ramping them up later?
posted by Comrade Doll to Media & Arts (9 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I have noticed that too. I regularly see ads that are two minutes long.

Here's a tip if you're watching Hulu on a computer: when an exceptionally long ad begins, refresh the page. The show will begin where you left off, and the ad will only be 15-30 seconds long. Works for me every time.
posted by alligatorman at 9:36 PM on June 25, 2015 [7 favorites]


Yeah, they seem longer to me, too.
posted by J. Wilson at 9:48 PM on June 25, 2015


I noticed that too last year (2014) I was getting less ads and were kinda short but this year I think they're getting kinda greedy to take in money from advertisers.
posted by dolilmao at 10:51 PM on June 25, 2015


Also a note, they just switched to "Hulu" as a fully paid platform (no free and paid "Plus") so it's likely that overall they're trying to increase revenue. I've noticed longer commercials, but I've also been watching Hulu for 5 or so years so they've been getting longer overall. Mine are about 90 seconds I think (on Apple TV.) And they did just win the bid for Seinfeld so it seems they're going after bigger fish rights-wise.
posted by Crystalinne at 10:58 PM on June 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


It has definitely increased in length and frequency.

One way to cut down on it is to just hit refresh when the ads start and it'll drop down to the 30 second ad length.
posted by wangarific at 3:41 AM on June 26, 2015


One other thing to consider: When I have adblocker on, ads do not show on hulu, but the breaks are sometimes 2 minutes long each time instead of shorter breaks with ads. Just a thought in case you've tried it or are using adblocker while watching.
posted by shortyJBot at 4:10 AM on June 26, 2015 [2 favorites]


Hulu paid an estimated $160,000,000 for those reruns. Gotta make it back somehow.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:36 AM on June 26, 2015


Hulu is also giving Roku users two free months if you sign up this weekend. Probably another factor.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:47 PM on June 26, 2015


I've noticed longer ads, but only on current prime time shows. For example, "America's Got Talent" is currently airing and the ads are horrible. But if I watch a re-run of "Brooklyn 99" the ads are much shorter.

I agree that it sucks.
posted by tacodave at 4:30 PM on June 26, 2015 [1 favorite]


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