HUU TO BEGIN CHARGING

Hulu, the second-largest video website behind YouTube, plans to begin a paid subscription service within the next month or two, published reports said Wednesday. Although it has expanded at a fast clip over the past two years, Hulu has failed to produce a significant amount of advertising revenue for its owners, News Corp/Fox, NBC Universal, and Disney/ABC. The website reportedly took in $100 million in total revenue in 2009, split among the three owners. The website MediaBeat.com said that while some TV shows will continue to remain free to PC users, those using game devices and other settop boxes connected to television sets as well as the iPad version will be required to pay a monthly subscription fee. It did not indicate what that fee is likely to be.