Published on: January 23, 2024
Hulu + Live TV is a standout in the live TV streaming space, offering a blend of over 90 cable and broadcast TV channels and an expansive on-demand library,
It’s an ideal fit in the cord-cutting era, especially if your household is interested in the Disney Bundle, which on its own starts at $15 per month.
Hulu with Live TV comes in at $76.99 per month, and presents a simple yet comprehensive package, integrating Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ into a single offering that caters to diverse viewing preferences.
But in 2024, Hulu continues to redefine the streaming landscape, offering a diversity of choices in you get your favorite live TV channels.
The streaming service updated its plans and pricing on January 11, 2024.
Plan Description | Monthly Price | Included Services |
---|---|---|
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) | $76.99 | On-demand ad-supported content. Live streams from sports, entertainment, and news channels. Additional content on Disney+ (With Ads) – Additional content on ESPN+ (With Ads). |
Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) | $89.99 | Stream almost all videos from Hulu’s library without ads. Live TV plan features additional content from Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads). |
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) (No Longer Available) | $81.99 | Live TV plan includes Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads). |
Live TV Only | $75.99 | Access to live content only. Does not include Hulu streaming library. Does not include Disney+ or ESPN+ access. |
Since its launch, Hulu has grown from a next-day broadcast service to a live TV pioneer, bundling essential local broadcasts, top-tier cable news, and sports networks. This unique blend ensures a rich viewing experience, devoid of the complexities of traditional cable TV.
While channel availability may vary by location, Hulu + Live TV’s commitment to a seamless, user-centric experience stands out. It represents the evolving landscape of television, where live broadcasting and on-demand streaming converge to meet the modern viewer’s need for convenience and variety.
Hulu + Live TV Channel List for 2024
- ABC
- ABC Localish
- ABC News
- ACCN
- A&E
- Adult Swim
- Animal Planet
- BET
- Big 10 Network
- Bloomberg Television
- Bravo
- Cartoon Network
- CBS
- CBS News
- CBS Sports Network
- Cheddar News
- CMT
- CNBC
- CNN
- CNN International
- Comedy Central
- Comedy.tv
- Cozi TV
- The CW
- Dabl
- Discovery Channel
- The Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- E!
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNEWS
- ESPNU
- Food Network
- Fox
- Fox Business
- Fox News
- Freeform
- FS1
- FS2
- FX
- FXM
- FXX
- FYI
- Golf
- The Grio
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
- HGTV
- HLN
- The History Channel
- Investigation Discovery
- Justice Central TV
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Movies
- Localish
- Magnolia Network
- MotorTrend
- MSNBC
- MTV
- NASA
- National Geographic
- National Geographic Wild
- NBC
- NBC LX
- NBC News Now
- NewsNation
- NFL Network
- Nickelodeon
- Nick Jr.
- OWN
- Oxygen
- Paramount Network
- Pop
- QVC
- SEC Network
- Smithsonian Channel
- Start TV
- Syfy
- TBS
- Telemundo
- TCM
- TLC
- TNT
- The Travel Channel
- TruTV
- TV Land
- Universal Kids
- USA
- Vevo ‘80s
- Vevo ‘90s
- Vevo Country
- Vevo Hip-Hop
- Vevo Holiday
- VH-1
- Vice
- The Weather Channel
Note: The Olympic Channel was taken off the air by its parent company on Sept. 30, 2021.
- Plans start at $75.99
- Over 90 live TV channels
- Unlimited Cloud DVR
- Disney+ and ESPN+ included
Latest 2024 plans, pricing & subscription tiers
Hulu started off 2024 by changing up its live TV plans, offering three options now instead of two. Customers have been familiar with the service’s two main plans.
Hulu + Live TV at $76.99 per month: this option includes ads across Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ .An upgraded option, Hulu + Live TV at $89.99 per month, when you stream Disney+, but still has ads on ESPN+.
These two plans have provided a mix of live and on-demand content across three different streaming apps – Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.
Customers can also get live TV as a standalone option for $75.99 per month. Back when the live TV arm of Hulu debuted in 2017, the service cost only $40 per month. There are still no contracts or hidden fees.
A subscription includes more than 90 live TV channels and unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage for recordings. It includes ESPN, local NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and regional sports networks.
Hulu is a good fit for sports fans who need coverage for NBA, MLB and NFL games. Local channels are available across most of the U.S. (See map below.) And you get major cable channels such CNN and TNT.
Its closest competitors are YouTube TV ($72.99 per month), Fubo ($79.99 per month) and DIRECTV STREAM ($79.99 per month).
Prices for Hulu and Hulu + Live TV changed on October 12, 2023 from $69.99 per month for the With Ads plan. Even with recent price hikes, using Hulu+ Live TV is cheaper than a cable TV or satellite service. That said, if someone just wanted ESPN or an entertainment channel, then Sling TV would be a more economical choice.
There is a robust lineup of news and entertainment channels that are carried by pricier cable TV and satellite services. And unlike its competitors, Hulu’s Live TV package rolls together three streaming services into one.
Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu’s on-demand library is included with a live TV subscription. It’s the same on-demand content that people can subscribe to separately. If you subscribe to Hulu Live TV, you will still need to use the Disney+ app and ESPN app to access those parts of a subscription.
Disney+ now costs $7.99 per month with Ads, and $13.99 per month for the ad-free version. ESPN+ costs $10.99 per month as a standalone subscription. Hulu With Ads costs $7.99 per month while Hulu No Ads is $17.99 per month.
For sports fans, you’ll find all ESPN channels within Hulu’s live TV channel lineup, including the Golf Channel. Regional NBC Sports channels are included. You can watch live TV on two screens at once.
You can upgrade to unlimited screens within your home Wi-Fi network for $9.99 per month.
Picking Hulu Live TV over another streaming service generally boils down to channel lineup and price. So if AMC and all three Hallmark Networks are a must, then you will probably be better off with competitors such as Philo or Sling TV.
Sports Add-on: $9.99 per month
- FanDuel Racing
- FanDuel TV
- MAVTV
- Motorsports Network
- NFL RedZone
- Outdoor Channel
- Sportsman Channel
Entertainment Add-on: $7.99 per month
Fan of cooking, crafting, reality TV, or more movies will get a number of key channels with this add-on for $7.99 more per month.
- American Heroes Channel
- BET Her
- Boomerang Channel
- CNBC World
- Cooking Channel
- Crime + Investigation
- Destination America
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- Hallmark Drama
- Military History Channel
- Nicktoons
- MTV2
- MTV Classic
- Science
- TeenNick
Español Add-on: $4.99 per month
- CNN en Español
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Familia
- ESPN Deportes
- Fox Deportes
- History Channel en Español
- Hogar de HGTV
- NBC Universo
Premium add-on channels
- Max: $15.99/month
- Cinemax: $9.99/month
- Showtime: $11.99/month
- STARZ: $9.99/month
Sports and Regional Sports Networks
You’ll find ESPN’s full suite of networks on Hulu with Live TV.
ACC Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, ESPN College Extra, and SEC Network are included at no extra cost. You can use your Hulu credentials to activate the ESPN app and watch ESPN3. Big 10 Network, FS1, FS2, and Golf Channel add some diversity to the ESPN-heavy lineup.
Regional NBC Sports channels are also included to in-market customers.
- NBC Sports Bay Area
- NBC Sports Boston
- NBC Sports California
- NBC Sports Chicago
- NBC Sports Northwest
- NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Monumental Sports Network
Hulu was among the few live TV streaming services that carried FOX Sports regional sports networks and Yes Network. But that came to an end in October 2020 over a contract dispute with Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. FOX Sports channels have since been renamed to Bally Sports.
Hulu and ESPN are owned by Disney. So it’s pretty unlikely that you run the risk of losing ESPN channels in your lineup if you’re a Hulu Live TV subscriber.
News channels on Hulu with Live TV
With local channels, the nightly news for ABC, CBS and NBC will always be available to you.
Hulu also has a cross section of online and cable TV news networks. They include: ABC News Live, CBSN, Cheddar Business, CNBC, CNN, CNN International, FOX Business, FOX News, HLN and MSNBC.
What kids channels are on Hulu Live?
Subscribers get Disney XD, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Nickelodeon and Universal Kids as part of a live TV subscription.
Aside from Hulu’s standard channel lineup, there are some smaller channels bundles that you can add onto a subscription.
Can I get Max on Hulu?
Currently, Hulu live subscribers have the option of getting Max for $15.99 per month. Max is the latest generation of HBO with added shows from Max Originals, DC, Turner Classic Movies, Adult Swim, Studio Ghibli, Cartoon Network, Sesame Workshop, Looney Tuns and Crunchyroll.
Subscribing to a premium network through Hulu gives you all the live channels and on-demand library. So you can easily catch up on an older season of a show like Succession, and see new movies and originals.
Can I watch AMC on Hulu with Live TV?
Hulu with Live TV does not carry AMC in its channel lineup. There is now a standalone streaming service called AMC+.
The service combines AMC, BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited for $8.99 per month.
There is a live stream of AMC channels as well. The service is only available on Sling TV, Amazon Prime Channels, Apple TV Channels and The Roku Channel.
There are a number of AMC shows that are available Hulu’s on-demand service. But that won’t help you for watching “The Walking Dead” or other popular shows on AMC.
Hulu’s TV Everywhere apps
Hulu with Live TV subscribers can activate a number of apps on streaming devices and websites. So for example, you can activate the Paramount Network app to watch a recent episode of “Yellowstone” or another favorite show that’s available on the app.
Hulu maintains a list of 56 TV Everywhere channel apps that you sign into by using your subscription.
Compatible devices for Hulu + Live TV
Hulu with Live TV is compatible with Smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, smart phones and PCs. Here is the full list.
Is Hulu with Live TV worth it?
Hulu with Live TV has sought-after cable TV channels, local broadcast channels rolled together with Disney+ and ESPN+.
In the competitive landscape of live TV streaming, Hulu Live TV, now priced at $76.99 per month, positions itself as a strong contender.
For consumers prioritizing a balance between cost and channel variety, the decision between Hulu Live TV and its competitors like YouTube TV and Fubo can hinge on specific TV channels, viewing preferences and the perceived value of each service’s unique offerings.
YouTube TV, at $72.99 per month, offers 128 channels, including local stations, making it a slightly more affordable option than Hulu Live TV. Its strength lies in a well-rounded channel lineup that caters to a broad audience, from sports enthusiasts to news watchers and families seeking entertainment.
The inclusion of local channels adds to its appeal for viewers interested in local news and events without the need for a separate antenna.
Fubo, with a monthly starting price of $79.99, has the largest number of channels among the three, offering 189 live TV channels along with local channels. This service is particularly attractive to sports fans, given its regional sports networks. But Fubo also adds a regional sports fee between $11.99 to $14.99 for the RSNs.
The slightly lower price point of Sling TV coupled with a robust channel lineup may sway users who are looking for cable channels while paying only $40 per month.
Hulu Live TV’s current pricing places it at the higher end of the spectrum. However, it’s not just about the number of channels. Hulu’s on-demand library along with subscriptions to Disney+ and ESPN+ carry a unique value proposition.
Subscribers to Hulu Live TV have access to Hulu’s extensive streaming library, which includes original series and a vast selection of shows and movies. ESPN+ has live sports, and exclusive coverage of major sports such as college football. And Disney+ rounds out the content library with family-oriented fare.
This dual nature of live plus on-demand content could justify the extra cost for users who value a comprehensive entertainment experience.
Ultimately, the choice among these services may come down to individual needs.
Budget-conscious consumers might lean towards YouTube TV for its slightly lower cost and adequate channel selection. Sports aficionados might find Fubo’s extensive sports lineup irresistible despite its mid-tier pricing.
In the quest for value in live TV streaming, the best service is one that aligns closely with the viewer’s lifestyle, preferences, and budget. Hulu Live TV could appeal to those who appreciate a rich on-demand library alongside their live TV, even if it means paying a bit more.
Methodology
I spend hundreds of hours throughout the year conducting hands-on testing of streaming services, including Peacock, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV. I do the same rigorous testing for TV antennas and TV-related hardware. Check out the review policy to see how I compare products and services.The Cord Cutting Report is a reader-supported publication, and may earn affiliate commissions when you pick a streaming service through a recommendation. Read our affiliate policy for more information.