Making an overt bet on its sweeping vision of the future of television, the two-and-a-half year old online video provider, Hulu, Tuesday introduced a paid subscription service that would provide viewers with hundreds of new episodes for $9.99 per month. 

With the newly-introduced paid service – ‘Hulu Plus’ – Hulu promises its users the access to full seasons of TV shows on an array of devices, including iPhones, iPads, laptops, video game consoles, Blu-ray players, and even old-fashioned TV sets. 

Already, most of the users of Hulu are paying more than five times the new paid subscription amount for an unlimited package of channels from a cable or satellite company. Nonetheless, Hulu as well as the established distributors are hoping that most viewers will pay for the services of both providers.

The Hulu Plus move is a clear indication that TV networks have recognized that viewers will increasingly become more inclined towards online and mobile devices. As such, over and above the cable industry’s competing ‘TV Everywhere’ initiative, whereby cable or satellite TV subscribers can view programs online, Hulu Plus will broaden the selection of programs for Hulu users.

The Hulu Plus initiative will allow subscribers to watch a season of episodes from popular like “Glee,” “Modern Family” and “The Office”; along with episodes of cult favorites, like “X-Files” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which are unavailable on the free Hulu site.