Hulu and YouTube to try paid subscriptions

After relying on advertising for revenues both YouTube and Hulu are now in talks to put some of the content behind subscriptions.

NBC (GE), Fox (NWS), and ABC (DIS), the broadcasters that control Hulu, are warming to the idea of charging for at least some content.

Hulu is expected to start testing subscription tiers for its programs in the new year, according to those who have worked with the Los Angeles company. And BusinessWeek has learned that Hulu is in early-stage talks with cable operators, including Comcast (CMCSA) and Time Warner (TWX), to limit access to those viewers who can prove they already pay for a cable subscription. via Hulu’s Tough Choices – BusinessWeek

Google’s video site (Ed. YouTube) has been trying to convince the TV industry to let it stream individual shows for a fee, multiple sources tell me. YouTube already lets users watch a smattering of TV shows for free, with advertising. Now it envisions something similar to what Apple and Amazon already offer: First-run shows, without commercials, for $1.99 an episode, available the day after they air on broadcast or cable.Those days may now be coming to an end. via Google Wants to Offer Streaming TV on YouTube–For a Fee | Peter Kafka | MediaMemo | AllThingsD