After a cosy start to showing TV online, the internet TV companies are starting to get nasty.

As reported earlier this week Hulu, has removed its content from both TV.com and Boxee. TV.com is owned by rival broadcaster CBS – Boxee writes software allowing set top boxes to stream internet TV. And why is Hulu showing its nasty side? Well it seems that the website is bowing to pressure from the owners of the content and also the cable companies.

Next we hear that cable TV companies Time Warner and Comcast are in negotiations to make some of their premium content available to subscribers. The deal will probably involve free streaming to existing subscribers of the service. This has already happened with Satellite TV company Sky.

Is it all a bit too late now though? People are used to free streaming TV and will not be wanting to pay for it. The obvious solution would be a pay per video or movie system, so users can pay as and when they like. But only for the latest movies and TV shows – Everything else has to stay free.

So do you hold off buying that set top box? Well, i would say wait and see what happens. In every war there are winners and losers, but before all that. It usually gets very nasty.

Related posts:

1. Internet TV wars update – Boxee regains Hulu streams. Then loses them again
2. Comcast to launch streaming TV on demand service
3. Cable companies muscle in on internet TV
4. Cable companies offering internet TV for free!
5. Hulu getting tough with TV.com and Boxee