News

Who is Watching Hulu? Depends Who You Ask

Hulu is finding favor among the 55-plus crowd, according to data from online audience measurement firm Hitwise.

The research company reported that 47 percent of visitors to Hulu are 55 and older, compared to only 17 percent who are 18 to 34. That data comes from the four-week period ending March 15. Hulu is the new online video joint venture from Fox and NBC.

Hitwise said the majority of traffic to Hulu is coming from Google and sites like Yahoo Tech, which attracts an older audience. That could explain why Hulu lured so many older users when it was still in a private beta test.

When contacted about the Hitwise data, Hulu directed TelevisionWeek to Nielsen Online, which is also tracking the site.

Nielsen Online reported that in the month of February only 14% of Hulu’s unique visitors were 55 and older, while 31% were age 18 to 34.

Check out Daisy Whitney’s “New Media Minute” for a video report on the Hulu traffic report.

(Editor: Baumann)

Comments (2)

In addition to the tech loving 55-plus Hulu early adopters, the site is about watching TV, after all, and many of the shows on the site are older shows which are no longer on TV, shows which would be familiar and of interest to the older viewers. I mean, where else can you see the Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode "The Jar"?

And perhaps the fact that the baby boomers are flocking to the Hulu site will finally dispel the notion that only the young enjoy the net.

The site was also in beta during that time, so that would likely skew the numbers, as well...

Post a comment