Here we go again. Hulu With Live TV — currently the No. 1 livestreaming service in the United States with 4 million subscribers — is increasing prices starting December 21. Starting then, you’ll have to pay $70 a month for the service, which also includes access to the full Hulu on-demand catalog. That’s $5 more a month than the current price.
It’s the latest in a continuing trend for streaming services, which often see price increases every year or so. Hulu With Live TV last increased things in November 2020, bringing it in line with its closest competitor, YouTube TV, which (for now) remains at $65 a month. FuboTV, which has about a quarter of the subscribers, also costs $65 a month.
Hulu’s on-demand plan increased prices in October by $1 a month or $10 a year — which came to $7 or $70, respectively.
And Hulu will still have options to get rid of most on-demand advertising. And this price increase comes with a sweetener — you’ll also get Disney+ and ESPN+ for free.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Hulu With Live TV has more than 75 linear and on-demand channels, as well as local affiliates from ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC — though those will vary depending on where you live. Hulu is available on every major streaming platform, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Apple TV, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and in a web browser.
Here’s how the full Hulu plans break down after this latest increase:
Hulu on-demand: $7 a month or $70 a year with ads; $13 a month without ads
Hulu With Live TV: $70 a month with ads on on-demand; $76 a month without ads
There’s also an option for Hulu With Live TV without access to the on-demand content, but that’s only a dollar less than the new Live price that includes on-demand and really isn’t worth considering.
And the usual add-ons remain available, too. There’s expanded DVR or unlimited screens for $10 a month each, or you can bundle them together for $15 a month. There’s also additional entertainment networks for $8 a month, a sports add-on for $10 a month, and a Spanish-language option for $5 a month.
Hulu with Live TV: plans, price, channels, bundles and more
If you’re looking to cut the cord with your cable provider, but want to hang onto linear programming, one of the best cable TV alternatives is Hulu With Live TV. Billed as a Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD), Hulu With Live TV provides many of the same features you’d find in a premium cable package, like DVR recording. You’ll also be able to access movies and shows that are available through the standard Hulu streaming service. Plus, you'll get Disney+ and ESPN+ on the house.
There’s plenty to learn about Hulu With Live TV, and we’ve compiled all the most salient information into this helpful explainer. And do be sure to check back often: as Hulu With Live TV pricing and capabilities have been known to change in the blink of an eye.
Sling TV channels: Can you watch CBS, TBS, Bally Sports, and more?
Sling TV is not the most simple of streaming services. That’s by design. It’s built on two tracks — Sling Orange and Sling Blue. You can get one of the tracks for a paltry sum, or you can get both for just a little bit more. (Which is what Sling really encourages you to do.) There’s a little overlap between them, but neither has as many channels as you’ll get on its competitors.
To augment that, each track has its own slate of optional add-ons, which Sling TV calls Extras. They’ll cost you a few more dollars each month. While that can quickly take you into the same price range services like YouTube TV, Hulu With Live TV, and Fubo, it’s all about your ability to choose to have those add-ons — or not.
The Sling TV guide as seen on an iPhone. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
YouTube TV is the most popular live-streaming service in the U.S., with more than 8 million subscribers. Sling TV has about one-quarter of that. But it's still worth looking at the latter against the former because it does things a little differently.
