Hulu is an American over the top (OTT) media streaming company that offers live TV channels as well as an extensive on-demand library. That way, the subscriber is able to get most of their media in the same place. In our review of Hulu with live TV, we will take a deeper look into the service. With the increase in internet speeds and data caps, watching your media online is a great solution to increasing cable and satellite service prices. Like some of the other services, Hulu is offering a 7-day free trial to help you decide it is worth it.
The Hulu streaming service was founded in 2006 as a joint venture between ABC, Fox, NBC, and others. Since then, the service has gone through a number of changes. The most notable change is “Live TV” added to their streaming service on May 3rd of 2017. This addition gives viewers the ability to stream live TV to their account, and potentially replace their cable or satellite service for a lesser cost. Members pay a monthly subscription fee, based on the package they want. If you don’t think the service is worth the money, there is no contract. The service is only available in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the US, you will need a VPN to access the service.
Hulu Packages and Channel List
Prices for this service start at $7.99 a month for the limited commercials package. For that amount, you get access to the Hulu library only with a limited number of commercials. There are several other packages available including the Live TV option, but we will get into that in a moment. All prices we list below are monthly.
- Hulu Limited Commercials $7.99 – 30-day free trial. Gives you access to the Hulu library with limited or no commercials. You can binge watch entire seasons of shows, plus you can see Hulu exclusive content.
- Hulu No Commercials $11.99 – same plan as above, but without commercials at all.
- Hulu with Live TV $39.99 – 7-day trial. This package not only gives you access to the full Hulu library but you also get more than 50 live and on demand channels. This is one of 2 streaming services that offer the big 4 networks in the US.
Channels included with this service are ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, A&E, BTN, Boomerang, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS Sports Network, Chiller, CNBC, CNN, CNN International, Disney, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN U, Food Network, Fox Business, Fox News, FS1, FS2, Freeform, FX, FX Movies, FXX, FYI, Golf, HGTV, History, HLN, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies, MSNBC, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, NBCSN, Olympic Channel, Oxygen, SEC Network, Sprout, SyFy, TBS, TCM, TNT, Travel Channel, TruTV, USA, and Viceland.
Premium Channels – These include HBO for $14.99/mo, Cinemax for $9.99/mo, and Showtime for $8.99/mo.
Hulu with Live TV Features and Upgrades
DVR – Can be upgraded from 50 to 200 hours of your favorite shows with fast forwarding through commercials. There is no limit on the number of shows you can record simultaneously.
Unlimited Screens – Can be upgraded to allow for unlimited streams at home and 3 outside. The standard allotment is 2 screens.
Devices
The list of devices that support Hulu with Live TV is not complete. There are other platforms being worked on, so we will tell you what is available now, and ask you to check the website for the full list and updates. Also, you will find a full list of devices that support Hulu without Live TV.
The devices that support this service are iOS, Android, Xbox, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV & Fire TV Stick, and Chromecast.
Conclusion
Here is our list of pros and cons for the Hulu with Live TV service.
Pros
- Many good channels with options for premium channels
- Upgrade options to increase screens and DVR capability
- All 4 major US networks
- Access to entire Hulu library
Cons
- Only 2 simultaneous streams to start
- Does not support all devices yet
- Limited commercials
To wrap up this Hulu review, we are relatively impressed with the service. The live channels are similar to some of the other services offered, and so is the price. Not only do you get some great channels, but access to Hulu’s very large library of on demand content. Hulu with Live TV becomes very attractive because you can turn the service into a one stop shop for all of your media options. If you are looking for streaming options to replace your cable or satellite service, you really should give this one a shot.
