If you’re unsure of whether Hulu Live TV is the right live TV streaming service for you and your home, here are 5 reasons why it might be.
Category: Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is a popular live TV streaming service operating in the United States. With access to more than 75 live TV channels, a subscription unlocks access to a robust channel lineup, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. One of the major advantages to getting live TV from Hulu is that subscribers also get access to basic Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Table of contents
- How much is Hulu Live TV each month?
- Which channels do you get with Hulu Live TV?
- Which devices work with Hulu Live TV?
- What is the downside of Hulu Live TV?
- Is Hulu Live TV worth it?
How much is Hulu Live TV each month?
A standard Hulu Live TV subscription currently costs $69.99 per month. Although this is an expensive subscription, it is priced similar to the likes of fuboTV and YouTube TV. The subscription cost also includes access to basic Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus as well. It is also possible to sign up to a Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV now with Disney+ and ESPN+ plan for $75.99 per month, or even downgrade to a Live TV Only plan at $68.99 per month.
For reference, the Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV now with Disney+ and ESPN+ plan is due to change to a Live TV with Disney+ (No Ads), Hulu (No Ads), ESPN+ (With Ads) plan on December 8. Once this change takes effect, the new premium plan will cost $82.99 per month.
Which channels do you get with Hulu Live TV?
Hulu Live TV currently provides access to more than 75 live TV channels with the lineup consisting of a good mixture of news, entertainment, and sports. Some of the popular channels that subscribers to the base Hulu Live TV get access to include:
- ABC
- CBS
- ESPN
- Fox
- NBC
- NFL Network
- SEC Network
Hulu Live TV also offers the option to add more channels to the base plan through add-ons. These include premium add-ons like HBO Max and Showtime, as well as network add-ons. For example, there is an Entertainment add-on that adds more than 15 entertainment-related channels, including American Heroes Channel, Crime + Investigation, Magnolia Network, MTV2, and Teen Nick, among others. There is also a Sports add-on which adds another six sports channels to the base package.
In general, Hulu Live TV is one of the better options when it comes to local channels considering the base subscription includes access to local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. However, it is possible that subscribers in some areas may not have access to their specific locals. Not to mention, the channel lineup is subject to change at any time.
Which devices work with Hulu Live TV?
Hulu Live TV can be accessed on a number of different platforms and devices so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that’s compatible. As Hulu Live TV is accessed through the same app as the basic Hulu service, any smart TVs, streaming players, or mobile devices that are compatible with the Latest Hulu app will also be compatible with Hulu Live TV as well.
Some of the popular platforms supported by Hulu Live TV include:
- Android mobile
- Android TV (Google TV)
- Apple TV
- Fire TV
- iOS
- LG TVs
- Roku
- Samsung TVs
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
It should be noted that not all devices running on the platforms above are automatically supported. As a result, consumers may want to check their individual device(s) before signing up. For those without a currently supported device, it is possible that the compatibility list will be updated in the future to include more devices. In the meantime, it is always possible to watch Hulu Live TV directly through the Hulu website.
What is the downside of Hulu Live TV?
One of the main downsides with Hulu Live TV is the price. At $69.99 per month it is not the cheapest live TV service around and some may find that the price is just too high for what they need. Even though a subscription does offer good value through the addition of basic Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, many consumers would likely prefer to have the option to skip on these additional services and save on the monthly cost. Technically, Hulu does offer a Live TV Only plan but it only reduces the cost by $1 per month, making it somewhat of a redundant option.
Another potential downside is the channel lineup. Generally speaking, many will find the selection of channels suits their needs just fine, but others may find that the lineup is missing some channels that they do want access to. For example, both fuboTV and YouTube TV offer more channels for a very similar monthly price.
A final downside that some may find with this live TV service is the app experience in general. The app can be somewhat confusing to use at times and doesn’t focus as much on the live TV element as some other live TV services. Not to mention, subscribers have been known to occasionally run into general performance and streaming issues.
Is Hulu Live TV worth it?
Yes, Hulu Live TV is worth a subscription. However, it might not be the right option for every home. Where Hulu Live TV really offers value is in the bundled subscriptions department. For any homes that are already paying for basic Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus, or even just two of these services, there probably isn’t a better live TV service to go with. By the time they deduct the cost of those extra subscriptions, they will likely be paying a much lower monthly price for live TV than what competing services offer.
For homes that see less value in these extra subscriptions and would actually rather not have them to begin with, Hulu Live TV is unlikely to be the right choice. Instead, one of the other live TV services is likely to offer more channels for the same price, or a cheaper monthly price in general.
Recommended reading: Hulu Live TV review
While the information above provides a good summary of what Hulu Live TV is and has to offer, there are many other aspects that can positively or negatively impact the experience and the value of a subscription. Many of of these small differences are covered in the individual guides below.
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