They say that absolute power corrupts, or in the case of the networks – makes them lose the plot. The latest move by content owners is to ban Hulu from allowing its streams to play on mobile browser, Skyfire.

Amazingly those same content owners let Hulu stream shows into any internet browser window when it was launched, but because they want to be in total control are squeezing back the streams one by one. Hulu was previously pressurised by its paymasters to block streams to the Boxee browser which lets viewers watch internet streams on TV. The Playstation 3 was next and now the mobile browser for Windows Mobile phones – Skyfire.

Hulu have admitted that the networks are pulling the strings here as it makes absolutely zero sense to remove streams from viewers. They also hinted that these restrictions may be removed in the future, whatever that means.

It is of course totally baffling that a company making its content free to view via browsers, now chooses to only allow certain browsers permission to stream. By trying to restrict televisions and mobile phones access is senseless and will of course be worked around by coders on these devices. The fact that the networks will lose advertising revenue with this restriction is also puzzling.

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1. Free Mobile TV Coming To Cell Phones in 2009
2. Comcast Launch Mobile Phone TV
3. Internet TV wars update – Boxee regains Hulu streams. Then loses them again
4. Hulu going mobile on iPhone
5. Will Hulu Wipeout The TV Networks?