Hollywood Tests Tolerance For Ads With Online Video

Hulu requires viewers to sit through two minutes of advertisements for a typical half-hour episode, or roughly 75 percent less commercial time than the typical prime-time TV show. Users of digital video recorders can skip commercials, but there's no fast-forwarding through Hulu.

Hulu, like other online video companies, is testing viewers' tolerance for ads. Having gained a following among about 5 million users during its test phase, Hulu plans its broader launch today.