Fox premium network moves the rest of its content library onto Hulu.
Is “FX on Hulu” the most redundant branding of the month?
Late last year, the networks declaration to produce original content for Hulu flew over many heads as instead we indulged on the release of female led Dollface and the throwback of Veronica Mars. Now, as we are forced to stay in and rely on the live TV of cable subscriptions for different versions of the same COVID-19 news, we are bombarded with trailers for FX’s new attempt at streaming with the sci-fi drama, Devs, complete with the little “FX on Hulu” logo at the end.
While the statement is self explanatory, little effort is put into actively questioning why the statement needs to be made at all. Even before belonging to media overlord Disney, the majority of FX content has immediately slung its way to Hulu as its premiere streaming provider alongside networks like ABC, NBC, and even BBC. It’s a relationship much like butter on toast and certainly doesn’t need to be as in your face as the recurring TV spots imply.
Yet the number of Americans who actually see those TV spots are declining on a yearly basis as cable cutting is the new natural choice to budgeting. The sheer price of these subscriptions isn’t the only reason as the availability of more content online and at a moments notice is found to be more enticing than sitting through a marathon of Flip or Flop or Supernatural to pass the time by. In a recent survey by Limelight Networks, all but one listed reason includes an alternative viewing space online.
The existence of FX on Hulu only encourages migrations from cable subscriptions to streaming subscriptions, especially as it moves not only all past content but new viewing opportunities onto the platform. No longer are users scrambling between their DVR, Netflix, Hulu, and even the FX app to view the content they want as it is now all in one space. “FX on Hulu will, for the first time, bring together past seasons of acclaimed, award-winning legacy FX originals as well as new,” hypes the FX on Hulu FAQ’s whose questions all accommodate to this idea of convenience.
When you log into Hulu now the convenience is almost suffocating. Every series tile available to you in any genre includes an FX show of sorts whether it’s from the past or present. Devs is at the top, naturally, followed by new releases Dave and The Most Dangerous Animal of All. Underneath the duo lies a little FX on Hulu tile that pops open an all FX all the time dashboard with new-age classes like It’s Always Sunny and Snowfall. Even when you exit and continue down your page more and more FX is available to you and bags the age old streaming question: what should I watch?
FX on Hulu is arguably another example of beloved networks joining the slip and slide that is the streaming wars. Though John Landgraf, chief of the network, argues that they themselves aren’t the ones taking part in the competition as Hulu runs the platform, the new branding tucked between Bosley commercials is just as much a move threatening my wallet as the existing CBS All Access and NBC’s newcomer Peacock.
As you ponder the new viewing list Hulu has to offer, be sure to subscribe to the blog to get the latest updates of complaints at a moments notice all from the comfort of your sinking couch.
THE SINKING COUCH 