The Hulu Plus app is now available from the iTunes store for the iPad and the iPhone. Hulu Plus has not officially launched yet, but if you download the app now they’re accepting email addresses for invites to the “Hulu Plus Preview” and when spaces open up you can get an invitation to use the service early. Hulu Plus has more programming, available on more devices and all in HD for a $9.99 a month access fee. Gizmodo has some great feedback after playing with the preview.

So it’s here. Hulu for iPad is here. I thought when this day came I would be jumping up and down with excitement, but . . . somehow, eh.

Let me first say, I’m a huge fan of Hulu and I actually watch several FOX and NBC shows exclusively on Hulu and never bother to add them to my home DVR. I like to have some programming to watch when I’m taking a break at my desk or traveling on business. When the iPad first debuted I was very much looking forward to watching Hulu on my iPad.  So I’m surprised that I’m not more excited about Hulu arriving on the iPad. Perhaps it’s the fact that I watch very little TV in the summer while all the best shows are on hiatus. Mostly, I think it’s the fact that Hulu Plus comes with a $10 a month pricetag. It’s not that I don’t think the content on Hulu is worth $10 a month, in fact it is.

While Hulu is known for allowing you to catch up on episodes of current TV shows, specifically the most recent five episodes. Hulu also carries entire seasons of older TV shows that can be a lot of fun to watch. For example, with Hulu Plus you’ll be able to stream in HD entire current seasons of shows such as Glee, Modern Family, The Office and 30 Rock as well as the entire back library of many other shows, such as Arrested Development, The X-Files and Heroes. You will be able to watch the programming on your iPad, iPhone, computer and TV! And soon your PS3 and Xbox 360. That’s a great offering for $10. Here’s where the problem lies; most of us have already paid for this programming. Like most of my friends I  have cable television and a Netflix subscription and I have access to standard Hulu on my compter (for now at least, perhaps Hulu has plans to do away with standard Hulu). So, paying an additional $10 a month does not get me access to any new programming as far as I can tell. It only allows me to view this programming on my iPad/iPhone. Is that worth $10? But wait, it gets worse. Hulu Plus still has commercials! That’s right. So essentially I would be paying for programming that I’m already paying for through other sources and having to watch commercials.

I thought maybe I was the only one disenchanted by the $10 price but right now the app has a 1 1/2 star rating on iTunes and it’s certainly not due to the video quality or the slick interface. Most of the complaints are the price. So it will be interesting to see how Hulu Plus does and how this affects Hulu as we know it now.

Oh, and it’s only $10 so I’ll be signing up for it. Obviously.