Despite the fact they are showing Firefly, I think it's kinda weird you can watch movies and TV for free on IMDB. Doesn't it feel vaguely wrong to anyone else? (It's ok if I'm alone on this.)

Linnea1928 | September 17, 23:32 CET

Ah, this must be that new Amazon initiative -- they own IMDb so it's not such a stretch, plus IMDb wants to expand beyond 'Ooo, who's that cute guy in episode 2.08 of Bones?'. Nice idea, especially if it's accessible by me from work. ;)

cabri | September 18, 00:05 CET

But... but... the episodes are listed out of order. (Again!)

orphea | September 18, 02:19 CET

Interesting that the Hulu episodes have the TV version Ron Glass intro in them...

MikeTMC | September 18, 02:27 CET

Half of the episodes I bought from iTunes have Book's intro and the other half have the Captain's. I like both.

madmolly | September 18, 02:52 CET

It is not just Firefly. Hulu stuff is all over IMDB. Go to Joss Whedon's page etc.

Anonymous1 | September 18, 04:12 CET

No Serenity.

Anonymous1 | September 18, 04:14 CET

Not working here. Is that a British Isles thing? Or is it just down at present?

Hulu has not worked here before... But then it did for Dr. Horrible.

fangless | September 18, 07:21 CET

At the minute Hulu can only be watched in the United States. However there are plans for an international version for next summer from what I remember. The rights issue must be a nightmare.

I see that Firefly is also available at Amazon's On Demand service. But given a choice between paying two bucks to see it streamed or watched it free at Hulu, well it's a no brainer really.

Simon | September 18, 07:23 CET

I find it wrong to give away for free what has such a huge worth.

cleveland | September 18, 07:24 CET

It's a great way to expose the series to more people. I mean, short of mailing out Firefly DVDs to the entire DVD-player-possessing population, I can't think of a better way to encourage folks to try out the series. 'Cause all the glowing reviews and message board recommendations in the world still aren't gonna reach a whole lotta people who aren't willing to take the risk on the boxed set (or just don't like giving money to DVDs in general).

Maybe if some who experience the freebies end up loving the show, they'll want a copy for keeps and end up buying the sets (and Serenity). That would be a welcome result.

Kris | September 18, 08:10 CET

They paid for the rights I presume, so they can do with it what they want. Amazon did not get it for free.

pfxcarty | September 18, 08:25 CET

Is it a temporary thing? Can't be good for DVD sales.

Liam Mars | September 18, 12:55 CET

People get the wrong idea about these sorts of things. Internet streaming is great for DVD sales.

Racoon Boy | September 18, 13:05 CET

I can across this streaming facility the other day and it was working for some short film so it doesn't look it is a blanket ban at the moment but on an individual basis

garda39 | September 18, 13:50 CET

I've been embedding Firefly episodes in my blog for weeks now. (I do a "Firefly Sunday" thing.) Since I'm sure they paid for the rights to show the episodes, I have no problem with it.

NYPinTA | September 18, 15:12 CET

Racoon Boy said:
"People get the wrong idea about these sorts of things. Internet streaming is great for DVD sales."

Yeah, I'm not really getting that reaction. It's effortless exposure for the series, folks (y'know, where fans didn't have to do anything and neither did Fox, except for selling the rights to Amazon/IMDB). Who cares if it cuts into the DVDs sales a little, the folks who're gonna watch the streaming versions probably weren't about to buy the DVD sets anyway. If anything, I can see it prompting some sales. Also, Firefly's DVD sales don't affect you. It's already done very well. There's no way to be sure that even bigger sales will lead to anything substantial for the fans, I think we got all we're gonna get (aside from more comics).

D'oh, IMDB still has the episodes in the very incorrect airdate order. I didn't e-mail them yesterday because I figured a ton of fans already would have and they'd have it fixed by today.

Kris | September 18, 22:19 CET

And of course if you are outside the US you can see nothing on the page, IMDB simply tells you "There are no related videos available from IMDb."

Pumps | September 19, 00:03 CET

Yeah, us outside-the-US-types can't see them, which was to be expected. It does make me wonder though: are complete movies going to be up there, now? Other television shows? Are any of Joss' other works on there?

GVH | September 19, 02:19 CET

I would think that Hulu doesn't pay anything for rights.

Bet Hulu just shares ad revenue with the owner of the rights. NYPinTA doesn't pay anything to embed Firefly. Just like everyone else. IMDB could be not paying anything to embed everything that Hulu has.

Anonymous1 | September 19, 03:38 CET

GVH,

Go look at Joss's page. Other stuff is there.

Anonymous1 | September 19, 03:39 CET

Favorite actor/director etc. Go look at their page.

Anonymous1 | September 19, 03:40 CET

Do more people use IMDB.com than have ever even heard of Hulu? Cause if that is so, maybe IMDB.com cut a deal with Hulu to get some of that ad revenue.

Anonymous1 | September 19, 03:46 CET

Kris: D'oh, IMDB still has the episodes in the very incorrect airdate order. I didn't e-mail them yesterday because I figured a ton of fans already would have and they'd have it fixed by today.

Kris, it can take weeks to get something changed on IMDb. When Drive was only a month away from its premiere, they still hadn't listed Nathan as the star. Took another 2-3 weeks to get it on there.

cabri | September 19, 06:46 CET

Ah, I had no idea it took so long sometimes cabri. The only time I was an active contributor to the IMDB was back when Carnivale was airing. I would add in the recurring and one-time guest actors from the end credits of some episodes because it didn't seem like anyone else was and I was a big fan of Blake Shields' character, Osgoode (y'know, of Sampson and Jonesey often's going, "Shut up, Osgoode!"). The folks who approved stuff at IMDB had it through within a day or two. Maybe it just depends on the show or movie being added to and who at IMDB is assigned to checking it and how often they do so.

Blake Shields went on to have a signficant main role in the first season of Sleeper Cell, the excellent Showtime series that lasted two seasons (as intended, I believe).

Anonymous1, I'd say the IMDB is way mofe popular than Hulu still. It's been around a lot longer and, arguably, would be visited more often 'cause there's more of a use for it as a reference tool and community. Personally I only became aware of Hulu earlier this year, but then I'm not always up on internet communities and trends anymore. It has gotten way beyond huge, it's impossible to keep track, and I don't generally watch free video online unless it's something I've been shown on YouTube or it's something super-hyped or connected to stuff I already love, like Dr. Horrible or the River Tam sessions.

[ edited by Kris on 2008-09-19 09:22 ]

Kris | September 19, 09:19 CET

Anonymous1, I don't think IMDB even shows you the videos are there at all, if you're outside the US. If not, I'm not looking in the right place :).

GVH | September 19, 12:28 CET