5:45 PM Web hub clamps down on manual tweaks that allowed the Kylo browser to play back Hulu vids

Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor

May 28, 2010

1 Min Read
Hulu Blocks Hillcrest Again

5:45 PM -- Well, that didn't take long. Just two days after Hillcrest Labs released a new version of Kylo, its TV-optimized Web browser, that enabled access to Hulu LLC videos, it appears the Web video hub has stepped in again to block access to its streaming TV content. (See Hillcrest Creates Hulu Workaround for TV Browser and Tricking Hulu .)

Users discovered today that when they adjust Kylo's compatibility settings to view Hulu, the videos play for about half a minute before the stream is shut down abruptly, followed by the posting of this unhelpful message:

Apology Not Accepted

The first time, Hulu confirmed to Hillcrest that it was blocking Kylo but never officially said so to the outside world. (See Hillcrest: Hulu May Be Is Blocking 'Kylo' TV Browser.)

Hillcrest took the latest Hulu block in stride.

"Our hope is that a respectful dialog with Hulu will encourage them to consider changing their policies, especially since consumers can use other Web browsers like Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox to watch Hulu on TV," Hillcrest founder and CEO Dan Simpkins said, in a statement. "Fortunately, the major TV network shows are available directly from the networks' individual websites, and those sites are compatible with Kylo."

He added that Hillcrest views Kylo as "simply a Web browser" with a "specialized UI (user interface) that includes larger controls," and is based on open-source Mozilla code. "We believe consumers should be able to use the Kylo browser to visit any site on the Web on the display screen of their choice," he added.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable

About the Author(s)

Jeff Baumgartner

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Jeff Baumgartner is a Senior Editor for Light Reading and is responsible for the day-to-day news coverage and analysis of the cable and video sectors. Follow him on X and LinkedIn.

Baumgartner also served as Site Editor for Light Reading Cable from 2007-2013. In between his two stints at Light Reading, he led tech coverage for Multichannel News and was a regular contributor to Broadcasting + Cable. Baumgartner was named to the 2018 class of the Cable TV Pioneers.

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