Another Hulu Conspiracy Theory: NBC Holding Out for Windows 7 Media Center?

Why did Hulu disable its video-on-demand service from Boxee, ReQuest and other settop boxes?

Speculation abounds.

To wit: Hulu would lose revenue from banner ads; Hulu wants to charge for its intellectual property; networks don't like change.

And this prevailing theory: Cable companies pressured Hulu and the networks, fearing the accelerated loss of subscribers. This one makes good sense, especially in light of the fact that Comcast is now offering Hulu through its Fancast.com online service.

And so on and so on.

But here is another theory that doesn't seem to have taken hold: Hulu is saving itself for Windows 7 Media Center.

Follow closely...

Hulu was co-founded by NBC. NBC has a tight relationship with Microsoft. That union created MSNBC. The two behemoths have collaborated extensively on TV-friendly video-on-demand (Olympics, SportsLounge , the election, etc.). (Correction: SportsLounge was a deal with Fox ... thanks, Derek)

IP-based VOD is a hallmark of Windows 7 Media Center.

Hulu on someone else's TV-friendly platform would detract from Windows 7 Media Center.
Ergo, make Hulu difficult to navigate via TV, so Media Center gets the edge.

I have absolutely no evidence of this. And, I don't suggest there is anything wrong with such a strategy if it happens to be true. In fact, it would make good business sense.

It's just one more conspiracy theory to throw out there.


Would TV-friendly Hulu detract from the forthcoming Windws 7 Media Center (shown here)?