IMHO, Hulu's incredible success is a big milestone in the inevitable digital entertainment convergence story.
Prediction: The next-gen gaming consoles will bring together TV and movie streaming services to put a ton of pressure on both the traditional rental market and cable companies. I could see Xbox 720 partnering with Hulu + Netflix streaming, PS4 hooking up with YouTube, and potentially Apple building a gaming platform + iTunes (or maybe partnering with Nintendo). Along with a convergence of tv, movies, and gaming, the platforms already have a social network component that will bring together social media experiences that will create new forms of entertainment that cable companies simply can't match. Just like home phones were a no-brainer necessity prior to cell phone ubiquity, so are the days numbered for big cable.
Prediction: The next-gen gaming consoles will bring together TV and movie streaming services to put a ton of pressure on both the traditional rental market and cable companies. I could see Xbox 720 partnering with Hulu + Netflix streaming, PS4 hooking up with YouTube, and potentially Apple building a gaming platform + iTunes (or maybe partnering with Nintendo). Along with a convergence of tv, movies, and gaming, the platforms already have a social network component that will bring together social media experiences that will create new forms of entertainment that cable companies simply can't match. Just like home phones were a no-brainer necessity prior to cell phone ubiquity, so are the days numbered for big cable.