Hulu is an on-demand video streaming service that also runs a live TV streaming service, called Hulu + Live TV. Both divisions of this company are among the top providers in their fields. While Hulu is the second-largest on-demand video streaming service in the United States, Hulu + Live TV is the largest live TV streaming service in the USA. The on-demand streaming library market is much larger than the live TV services sector. There are 25 million Hulu subscribers in the USA, of which, 3.2 million are also users of the Live TV option.
The members of the Hulu + Live TV service get all of the benefits of the Hulu on-demand streaming library as well as the live TV service. Live TV streaming copies the TV channel bundles offered by cable TV companies. So, Hulu + Live TV and its live-streaming rivals are also rivals to Xfinity, Cox Cable, Verizon Fios, and other cable TV providers.
Hulu overview
Hulu has to watch the competition in two markets. In the on-demand video streaming sector, Hulu trails behind the leader, which is Netflix and is just ahead of Amazon Prime Video, which is in the number three slot.
Hulu + Live TV is the number one live streaming service in the USA, followed by Sling TV and then YouTube TV. AT&T TV Now and fuboTV are other strong contenders in the live streaming sector. The live streaming model has many advantages over the traditional cable TV system. This is because the cost of installing and maintaining an independent cable network puts a great financial burden on the traditional cable TV providers.
Hulu’s ownership has been through a number of hands since its creation and it is now a division of the Walt Disney Company. The power of the Disney media strategy should not be underestimated. Even though Disney has recently launched Disney+, in direct competition with Hulu, the Company ensured the family-friendly content requirement of its eponymous on-demand streaming service still leaves plenty of potential customers who would prefer to sign up for Hulu.
What TV channels are included with Hulu + Live TV?
Before considering the channels offered by Hulu + Live TV is it worth noting that the TV Hulu plan includes access to the Hulu on-demand content library, which includes more than 10,000 videos. Hulu has invested in Hulu Originals, which include The Handmaid’s Tale and Difficult People.
Hulu + Live TV offers one base package of 65 channels and a selection of add-on packages. Some of the live TV channels included in the Live TV Hulu plan channel lineup are:
Notable live TV channels included with Hulu + Live TV
- ABC (with local channels)
- A&E
- Animal Planet
- Bravo
- CBS (with local channels)
- Discovery Channel
- DIY Network
- Food Network
- Fox (with local channels)
- Freeform
- HGTV
- History Channel
- Hulu Originals
- Investigation Discovery
- Lifetime
- National Geographic
- NBC (with local channels)
- Telemundo
- The CW
- TLC
- Travel Channel
- USA Network
News channels included with Hulu + Live TV
- Cheddar
- CNBC
- CNN
- Fox News
- MSNBC
Sports channels included with Hulu + Live TV
- Regional Sports Network
- Big Ten Network
- CBS Sports
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNews
- ESPNU
- Fox Sports 1
- Fox Sports 2
- Golf Channel
- NBC Sports Network (NBC SN)
- Olympic Channel
- SEC Network
- TBS
- TNT
Children’s TV channels included with Hulu + Live TV
- Boomerang
- Cartoon Network
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Universal Kids
Premium network add-on packages with Hulu + Live TV
- Cinemax
- HBO Max
- Showtime
- Starz
Entertainment add-on TV channels bundle
- Cooking Channel
- Destination America
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- DIY Network
- FYI
Español add-on TV channels bundle
- CNN en Español
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Familia
- ESPN Deportes
- History Channel en Español
- Universo
Hulu + Live TV devices
Each account is entitled to stream to two devices at once. An upgrade can remove that limit so the account has the right to unlimited screens.
These supported devices can receive Hulu + Live TV:
Smart TVs
- Samsung Smart TVs
- LG Smart TVs
- VIZIO Smart TVs
Streaming devices
- Web browser
- Google Chromecast
- Roku
- Apple TV
- Android TV box
- Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Amazon Fire TV Cube
Game consoles
- Xbox One
- Xbox 360
- PlayStation 4
- Nintendo Switch
Mobile devices
- Hulu TV app for iOS (iPhones and iPads)
- Hulu TV app for Android (will also work with Amazon Kindle)
Hulu + Live TV includes a cloud DVR service with 50 hours of cloud, which can be upgraded to 200 hours. It isn’t possible to record just one episode of a series – you have to include the whole series of the TV show.
Additionally, Hulu + Live TV has access to the on-demand library. These are ad-supported. The account holder can upgrade to a service with no ads.
Hulu + Live TV price
A straightforward Hulu subscription without Live TV costs $5.99 per month – that includes ads. The base package of Hulu + Live TV costs $54.99 per month. The Live TV Only option, without access to the Hulu on-demand library costs $53.99 per month.
The DVR upgrade costs $9.99 per month and the unlimited screens offer also costs $9.99 per month. The no-ad upgrade costs $6 per month.
The Entertainment add-on costs $7.99 per month and the Español add-on costs $4.99/month.
The Showtime add-on costs $10.99 per month, the Starz add-on costs $8.99 per month, the HBO Max add-on costs $14.99 per month, and the Cinemax add-on costs $9.99 per month.
Contract conditions
Hulu + Live TV is a contractless service so there are no installation fees, equipment fees, deposit requirements, early termination fees, or reconnection fees.
How to cancel Hulu + Live TV
To cancel Hulu:
- Surf to the hulu.com website and sign in.
- Go to your Account page.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Cancel Your Subscription.
- Click on the Continue to Cancel button.
- Select a cancelation reason and the press the Continue to Cancel button again.
- Confirm this action in the net screen by pressing the Continue to Cancel button.
- After reading the offer of a free month, press the Cancel Subscription button
Hulu deals
Disney offers a combined package of Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ for $12,99 per month. However, this does not include the Live TV streaming service.
Free trial
Hulu currently offers a 7-day free trial of Hulu + Live TV.
