While I understand the similarities between YouTube and Hulu, I was a little surprised when Burgess and Green listed the two as direct competitors in “YouTube and the Mainstream Media.” Generally speaking, I visit each page for different activities, as the online content I’m seeking determines which video-posting site I use to search.
YouTube’s material and content type is much more diverse – ranging from music videos and song lyrics to TV clips and homemade videos. And this only scratches at the surface of available posts - just last week I watched a two-hour Enron documentary listed in ten parts on YouTube. When I use Hulu, it’s to watch full episodes from broadcast and cable network programming like NBC’s The Office and ABC’s Brothers & Sisters. It’s also great at highlighting short (and often hilarious) clips from content like The Colbert Report and SNL. Accordingly, each site seems to focus on videos that its competitor does not – or cannot – offer viewers.
Furthermore, each site has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, one downside of Hulu is the commercials… although I suppose it’s a necessary evil of a distribution site hosting legal content. On the flip side, Hulu users enjoy high quality programming oftentimes unavailable on YouTube, especially when individuals post pirated television episodes or clips.
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