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Hulu Live TV Review 2024: Is Hulu + Live TV Worth The Money?

Everything you need to know about Hulu + Live TV's streaming service including prices, channels, and how it stands up to the competition.

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Lara Vukelich, Tyler Schoeber

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The streaming TV landscape is more crowded than ever, but Hulu has remained a pillar in the streaming industry since its inception. What began as a website for streaming network TV shows has evolved into a full-fledged TV service that also produces its own hit series, boasting a surprisingly robust on-demand library. If you're considering cutting the cord, Hulu + Live TV might be your perfect solution, especially if you're already a Hulu user. 

Let's dive into the details to see why Hulu + Live TV is a top contender in the streaming world. 

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu/Getty Images

What Is Hulu + Live TV?

Hulu + Live TV is not just about on-demand content; it offers an impressive array of live TV channels, making it an excellent option for those looking to replace their traditional cable service. With Hulu + Live TV, you get access to thousands upon thousands of TV shows and movies, alongside more than 95 live channels. Local networks are included in most areas, so you won't miss out on your favorite news or sports broadcasts. We know you can't go without your local news broadcasters. We can't, either. Hulu + Live TV ensures that even if you do decide to ditch cable, you don't have to say goodbye to your go-to morning news reporters.

The service also comes with a cloud DVR featuring unlimited storage, allowing you to record your favorite shows and movies to watch at your convenience. We get it, sometimes those awards shows go way too long on work nights. You can create up to six individual user profiles, ensuring each family member has a personalized viewing experience. And the best part? There's no contract, so you can cancel at any time without penalty. Plus, you can take advantage of a three-day free trial to test the waters before committing. 

Hulu + Live TV Plans and Pricing

Hulu offers two plans for live TV, both competitive with traditional cable options:

  • Hulu + Live TV: For $83/month, you get access to more than 95 channels, including local broadcast channels in most markets, sports, news, and entertainment shows. The plan includes a cloud DVR with unlimited storage and allows you to watch on two screens simultaneously. In addition to live TV, you also get unlimited access to Hulu's extensive on-demand library, including many popular Hulu Originals. This plan is ad-supported, so you'll see commercials in both live broadcasts and on-demand content.
  • Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV: At $96/month, this plan includes everything in the basic Hulu + Live TV plan but removes ads from on-demand content on both Hulu and Disney+. However, live TV broadcasts will still include commercials.

Both plans automatically include Disney+ and ESPN+, adding even more value to your subscription. Disney+ expands the on-demand offerings significantly, bringing you a vast library of family-friendly and blockbuster content. These subscription services would traditionally cost subscribers around $30 for both, but with Hulu + Live TV, they're fully included. You can't beat that!

Hulu + Live TV Compared to Other Live TV Streaming Services

Hulu + Live TV stands out among live streaming platforms for its comprehensive offerings and competitive pricing. While Philo is cheaper at $28/month, it lacks the local broadcast networks and many channels included in Hulu + Live TV. Services like YouTube TV offer similar channel lineups but miss out on channels like A&E, History Channel, and Lifetime, which Hulu includes. Plus, you can't forget about the added throw-in of both Disney+ and ESPN+. Try getting that with any alternative!

Here's a little breakdown when comparing to other live TV streaming services:

Live TV Streaming Services Compared

Hulu + Live TVYouTube TVfuboTVPhilo
Starting Price $83/mo.$73/mo.$80/mo.$28/mo.
Free Trial Length 3 Days7 to 60 Days7 Days7 Days
On Demand Content? YesYesYesYes
Number of Channels 95+100+190+70+
DVR Storage UnlimitedUnlimited1,000 HoursUnlimited

Hulu + Live TV Features & Flexibility

Hulu + Live TV is packed with features to enhance your viewing experience:

  • DVR: With unlimited cloud DVR storage, you can record as many shows and events as you want, and recordings stay in your account for up to a year. You can even skip commercials in your recordings.
  • Simultaneous Streams: The basic plan allows streaming on two devices at the same time, but for an additional $10/month, you can upgrade to unlimited streams at home and up to three on-the-go, perfect for larger households.
  • Sports: Sports fans will love Hulu + Live TV for its extensive sports coverage. You can watch games from the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, NCAA, English Premier League, and more. Channels include ACC Network, Big 10 Network, CBS Sports, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, NBC Sports Network, Olympic Channel, and TNT, among others.
  • Interface: The Live Guide is user-friendly, offering filters for Recent, Channels, Favorites, Sports, News, Movies, and Kids. This guide helps you navigate through the live TV options with ease.

Hulu + Live TV Supported Devices

Hulu + Live TV is available on a wide range of devices, making it easy to watch from almost anywhere:

  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming sticks like Roku and Amazon Fire Stick
  • Computers
  • Gaming consoles like PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
  • Smartphones and tablets (iOS and Android)

Hulu + Live TV Channels, Content, and Add-ons

Hulu + Live TV offers an extensive range of channels, including A&E, ABC News, ACC Network, Adult Swim, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BET, Big 10 Network, Bloomberg Television, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS News, CBS Sports Network, Cheddar, CMT, CNBC, CNN, CNN International, Comedy Central, Complex, Cooking Channel, COZI TV, The CW, Discovery, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, ESPN College Extra, Food Network, Fox Business, Fox News, FS1, FS2, Freeform, Fuse, FX, FXM, FXX, Golf Channel, HereTV, HGTV, History, HLN, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, NASA, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBC News, NBC Sports Network, Nickelodeon, Olympic Channel, Oxygen, Pocket Watch, Pop, QVC, Science Channel, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SyFy, Tastemade, TBS, TCM, Telemundo, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, TruTV, TV Land, Universal Kids, USA, VH1, Vice, WGN America, and more.

You can also add premium channels like Max, Starz, and Showtime to your subscription.

Is Hulu + Live TV Worth It?

Absolutely. Hulu + Live TV is one of the best alternatives to cable or satellite, offering a comprehensive entertainment package at a reasonable price. With access to more than 95 channels, Hulu Originals, and Hulu's massive on-demand library, you get the best of TV, sports, documentaries, and news programming all in one place. The flexibility of add-ons and upgrade options means you can customize your experience to suit your needs. Give Hulu + Live TV a try with the three-day free trial and see if it's the right streaming service for you.


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