- PRICE HIKE: Hulu + Live TV increased its starting price from $54.99/month to $64.99/month as of December 18, 2020.
- Hulu + Live TV offers 65+ news, sports and entertainment channels, plus unlimited access to Hulu’s on-demand streaming library with limited ads.
- Hulu has updated its user interface and live TV guide. The new and improved grid guide lets viewers see what’s airing up to two weeks in advance.
- Cloud DVR: 50 hours included at no additional charge, but you must upgrade to fast forward through commercials.
The streaming service Hulu has grown to more than 36 million subscribers by expanding its on-demand library of television shows and releasing original programming like the award-winning The Handmaid’s Tale.
But the company is also focused on its live TV option — Hulu with Live TV — which is an alternative to cable and satellite.
Hulu With Live TV Review: What You Need to Know
For $64.99 per month, Hulu’s only live TV package offers dozens of channels and access to the provider’s entire streaming library with its Limited Commercials plan that normally costs $5.99 per month.
What makes pay-TV alternatives like Hulu unique is that there’s no cable box required and no contracts — you can cancel anytime.
Hulu Live is competing with Sling TV, AT&T TV Now, YouTube TV and others. I’ve tested out Hulu with Live TV a handful of times since the service launched in May 2017.
Read on for details about the Hulu + Live TV streaming experience and my personal review!
Table of Contents:
1. What Channels Do You Get With Hulu + Live TV?
The channel lineup is probably the most important factor when choosing a live TV streaming service. A Hulu Live subscription comes with more than 65 channels, but local stations and regional sports networks will vary by location.
You can use the chart below to search for networks that are included in the base plan.
Hulu + Live TV Channel List
| Hulu + Live TV |
|---|
| A&E |
| ABC |
| ABC News Live |
| ACC Network (ACCN) |
| Animal Planet |
| Big Ten Network (BTN) |
| Bloomberg |
| Boomerang |
| Bravo |
| Cartoon Network |
| CBS |
| CBSN |
| CBS Sports Network |
| Cheddar |
| CNBC |
| CNN |
| CNN International |
| Cozi TV |
| CW |
| Discovery Channel |
| Disney Channel |
| Disney Junior |
| Disney XD |
| E! |
| ESPN |
| ESPN2 |
| ESPN3 |
| ESPN College Extra |
| ESPNews |
| ESPNU |
| Food Network |
| FOX |
| Fox Business Network |
| Fox News Channel |
| Fox Sports 1 (FS1) |
| Fox Sports 2 (FS2) |
| Freeform |
| FX |
| FXM |
| FXX |
| FYI |
| Golf Channel |
| HGTV |
| History Channel |
| HLN |
| Investigation Discovery (ID) |
| Lifetime |
| LMN |
| MotorTrend |
| MSNBC |
| National Geographic |
| Nat Geo Wild |
| NBC |
| NBCSN |
| Olympic Channel |
| Oxygen |
| Pop |
| QVC |
| SEC Network |
| Smithsonian Channel |
| SYFY |
| TBS |
| TCM (Turner Classic Movies) |
| Telemundo |
| TLC |
| TNT |
| Travel Channel |
| truTV |
| Universal Kids |
| USA |
| Vice |
Channel Add-Ons
- Add-on premium channels: Cinemax, HBO Max, Showtime, STARZ
- Entertainment add-on ($7.99/month): DIY, Cooking Channel, Science Channel, CNBC World and more
- Español add-on ($4.99/month): ESPN Deportes, NBC Universo, CNN En Español, History Channel En Español and more
2. Does Hulu With Live TV Include DVR?
Like many of its competitors, Hulu lets you record your favorite live TV shows to watch later. You get 50 hours of cloud DVR storage with the base subscription, but that doesn’t come with the ability to fast forward through commercials.
If you want that feature, Hulu says you can pay an extra $9.99 per month and get 200 hours of cloud DVR storage.
Hulu helps users manage their DVRs by showing the amount of storage left. You can also choose to record all future aired broadcasts (including reruns) or only new episodes.
3. What Equipment Do I Need to Get Started?
Hulu with Live TV requires a high-speed internet connection. The service works with affordable streaming media players including Roku Express, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Google Chromecast.
Here’s a list of the devices that Hulu supports, according to its website:
- Android phones and tablets
- Apple TV (4th gen or later)
- Chromecast
- Fire tablets
- Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- iPhones and iPads
- LG TV (select models)
- Mac or PC browser
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- Roku and Roku Stick (select models)
- Samsung TV (select models)
- Xbox 360
- Xbox One
4. Can I Watch Hulu With Live TV on Multiple Devices at the Same Time?
You’re only allowed to watch on up to two screens at a time with your Hulu subscription, but you can upgrade to unlimited screens for an extra $9.99 a month.
That allows everyone in your house to stream at the same time, plus you can watch up to three screens when you’re on the go.
You can’t access Hulu on a living room device outside of your home network, according to Hulu’s FAQ page. The live TV service is for use by a single household, so sharing a subscription is not allowed.
My Review: A Few Thoughts About Hulu + Live TV
When I talk to people about cable and satellite TV alternatives, many of them say they would like to pick and choose the channels they want instead of paying for a bundle.
But the most popular streaming options are still offering bundles, so finding the right mix of channels for your family is key.
Does Hulu with Live TV have the best channel lineup? That’s going to depend on your household’s TV viewing habits. I’ve put together a chart to help you see what the leading streaming services offer.
In the meantime, here are some key takeaways from my experience testing out Hulu with Live TV:
Navigation
Hulu + Live TV is easier to use than ever before. The clean layout makes it simple to search for live programming, record shows and movies, and access on-demand content that’s included with a subscription.
In 2020, Hulu updated the user interface for its live and on-demand products. The improved home screen is designed to help viewers discover new content with fewer clicks.
As part of this effort, categories of content such as TV shows, movies and sports have been added to the master navigation.
Hulu with Live TV has continually made improvements to the user experience. Back in 2019, it launched an updated live TV guide that lets you plan up to two weeks of streaming.
This may be your preferred way to find content if you like the traditional cable TV guide.
Personalization
Want to get back to your favorite show as quickly as possible? That’s one of Hulu’s strengths. From the home screen, the “Keep Watching” tab helps you pick up where you left off.
In addition, you can keep track of TV shows, movies and sporting events by adding content to the “My Stuff” category.
Performance
When Hulu + Live TV first launched in May 2017, I was disappointed. I couldn’t fully appreciate what it had to offer because of frequent buffering and error messages.
After I posted my initial article about Hulu, some of Clark.com’s readers said they also experienced performance issues.
However, I’ve tested Hulu Live multiple times since then (2018, 2019, 2020) and buffering has been minimal. I’ve mostly used an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Roku Express to stream. My internet download speed exceeds 50 Mbps.
Hulu recommends a minimum internet download speed of 8 Mbps for the live TV service. See our guide to test your download speed.
Pricing and Add-Ons
Hulu with Live TV starts with a free 7-day trial to give you time to see if the service is a good fit.
Hulu Live’s new $65 a month price is the same as YouTube TV. However, Hulu’s add-ons for enhanced DVR, unlimited screens and premium channels can quickly increase your bill.
Sadly, this service isn’t as good of a value as it used to be.
Hulu With Live TV: Pros and Cons |
|
| Pros | Cons |
| Good mix of sports, news and entertainment networks, plus local channels | Expensive add-ons |
| Hulu’s on-demand streaming library included | Must upgrade DVR to fast forward through commercials |
| 50 hours of cloud DVR storage | Only two screens at once unless you upgrade |
Final Thought
If Hulu Live’s channel lineup has everything you need, take Hulu up on the free trial offer. There’s no contract or long-term commitment. You can always cancel and try other streaming services until you find a keeper.
Read more and compare your options in Clark’s guide to the best live TV streaming plans and deals!
