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A Look at Hulu Live TV Channels, Plans, and On Demand

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Hulu offers various plans that provide live TV streaming and/or a vast on-demand streaming library. Hulu Live TV allows you to stream live local channels and many channels found on cable TV (check your zip code for available channels on Hulu’s website). Hulu’s live TV package includes most of the channels you want while providing the massive on-demand libraries of Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu’s own streaming library.

Read on, and I will explain everything you need to know about Hulu Live TV and the Hulu Streaming Library.

Table of Contents

Hulu Plans

Hulu provides two types of streaming plans. The Hulu Streaming Library offers a vast on-demand catalog of TV Shows, Movies, and Hulu Originals. Then, there is the Hulu Live TV streaming service that provides a streaming replacement to Cable TV, providing live streaming access to cable TV and local broadcast networks. While there are two main streaming offerings from Hulu, they are packaged in various pricing plans. You can also add premium channels like HBO, Showtime, and Starz to any Hulu plan (Both Hulu Live TV and Hulu Streaming Library.)

If you are unsure of which is right for you, we describe each below. Furthermore, you can change or cancel your Hulu plan at any time, by going to your Hulu account page online. If you scroll down to the “Manage Subscription” section, you can select “Manage Add-Ons.” Here you can see your current plan and available add-ons. Now let’s get to the various plans offered by Hulu.

Hulu Streaming Library Plans

The Hulu Streaming Library is Hulu’s on-demand component that includes Hulu Originals, past seasons of hit TV shows, movies, and more. There are a few pricing options for the Hulu Streaming Library:

Hulu

Cost: $7.99 per month after a 30-day free trial.

This is Hulu’s basic on-demand plan.

  • Hulu shows limited ads but offers an ad-free version for $14.99 per month*
  • Hulu Watch Party lets Hulu subscribers watch movies and shows together from different locations.
  • FX on Hulu – provides FX exclusive shows, past FX shows, and current series airing on FX just one day after an episode premiers.
  • Watch Hulu Originals like The Handmaid’s Tale, Only Murders in the Building, and Ramy.
  • Bundle Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. All three are only $12.99 per month without ads, or $19.99 per month to go ad-free on all three services.
  • You can add premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax.
  • No contract obligation. Cancel any time at no additional cost
  • The vast majority of on-demand is ad-free. Certain shows will have ads. The ad-free plan allows you to download shows and movies from Hulu.

Hulu with No Ads

Cost: $14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial

This plan includes everything you get with the basic Hulu plan, and includes the following additional features:

  • Enjoy the Hulu Streaming Library free from ad interutpions. Be aware that due to licensing, a few shows may have ads that appear prior to the start of the episode, but will not interrupt the middle of your TV show or movie
  • Download from thousands of titles to watch offline and save your data

Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ Bundle

There are three flavors of the Hulu On-Demand/Disney+/ESPN+ bundle. They are:

  • Disney Bundle Duo Basic: For $9.99 per month subscribers get Disney+ and the Hulu streaming library. You have to watch ads on both services with this plan.
  • Disney Bundle Trio Basic: For $12.99 per month subscribers get Disney+, ESPN+, and the Hulu streaming library. You have to watch ads on all three services with this plan.
  • Disney Bundle Trio Premium: For $19.99 per month subscribers get Disney+, ESPN+, and the Hulu streaming library. On this plan, Disney+ and Hulu are ad-free. There isn’t a plan that offers ad-free ESPN+.

Hulu Live TV Plans

Cost: $69.99 per month. Hulu Live TV includes the ad-supported version of the Hulu Streaming Library, Disney+, and ESPN+. You can upgrade to the ad-free version of Hulu’s streaming library and Disney+ for a cost of $82.99 per month.

The Hulu Live TV plan provides live streaming of live TV channels through Hulu. To see the list of channels available on Hulu Live TV see the section, Hulu Live TV Channels, or check the channels on Hulu Live TV in your Zipcode. Hulu Live TV includes The Hulu Streaming Library, Disney+, and ESPN+.

Hulu Live TV includes the following features:

  • A subscription to Disney+ and ESPN+ is included with your Hulu Live TV plan
  • All the on-demand access you usually receive with Hulu
  • live local ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and more in most markets of the country
  • Live access to popular channels found on cable, including HGTV, ESPN, Disney, A&E, Bravo, and more.
  • Unlimited cloud DVR storage. As of April 14th, 2022, Hulu + Live TV includes unlimited DVR storage. Recorded shows can be stored up to 9 months after recording them, and you can fast-forward through recorded commercials.
  • It comes with six customizable profiles.
  • Watch Hulu on two screens at once. Watch on unlimited screens for an additional $9.99 per month.
  • Add additional channel packages like Español Add-On for an additional $4.99/month and Entertainment Add-On for an additional $7.99/month.
  • No contract obligation. Cancel any time at no extra cost

There are also options to add premium channels and additional Live TV channels. We cover those later in this article. New customers can try Hulu’s streaming library plan through a free trial. There is no longer a free trial offer for Hulu Live TV. However, you can sign up for Hulu Live TV and cancel at any time as there isn’t a long-term contract.

Hulu Add-On Premium Channels

You can also subscribe to premium channels through Hulu. Subscribing through Hulu will allow you to access the premium channel through the Hulu app, including the content available on ESPN+. The table below shows the monthly price of various premium channels you can add to any Hulu plan.

ChannelPrice
HBO$15.99/month
Showtime$10.99/month
Cinemax$9.99/month
Starz$8.99/month

Hulu Live TV Channels

Hulu Live TV subscribers can watch local channels like ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS and over 60 other TV channels found on cable. Below is a list of all the channels you will find on Hulu. You can also go to Hulu’s website to see the channels in your area: See Hulu Live TV channels available in your zip code.

Hulu Live TV Channel List

Below are all the channels you get when subscribing to Hulu+Live TV:

Regional Sports Networks – If you live in the broadcast market of the following regional sports networks, you will also find them in your Hulu Live TV channel lineup:

Hulu also offers a way to subscribe to premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, ESPN+, and Cinemax. Hulu Live TV also offers the following channel add-on packages:

Hulu Live TV Add-on Channel Plans

Hulu Live TV provides the option to add the three add-on channel plans below.

Hulu Live TV Entertainment Add-On

Cost: An additional $7.99 per month

The Entertainment add-on adds the following TV channels to your Hulu Live subscription:

  • American Heroes Channel
  • BET Her
  • CNBC World
  • Cooking Channel
  • Crime + Investigation
  • Destination America
  • Discovery Family
  • Discovery Life
  • Hallmark Drama
  • Magnolia Network
  • Great American Family
  • Military History Channel
  • Nicktoons
  • MTV2
  • MTV Classic
  • Science
  • TeenNick

Hulu Live TV Sports Add-On

Cost: An additional $9.99 per month

The Sports add-on adds the following TV channels to your Hulu Live subscription:

  • NFL RedZone
  • FanDuel TV
  • FanDuel Racing
  • MAV TV
  • Outdoor Channel
  • Sportsman Channel

Hulu Live TV Español Add-On

Cost: An additional $4.99 per month

The Español add-on adds the following TV channels to your Hulu Live subscription:

  • CNN en Español
  • Discovery en Español
  • Discovery Familia
  • ESPN Deportes
  • FOX Deportes
  • History Channel en Español
  • NBC Universo

What’s On The Hulu Streaming Library

Hulu’s Streaming Library offers a ton of exclusive original shows, movies, and past seasons of a lot of quality network and cable TV shows.

Hulu Original And Exclusive Shows

Check out our ranking of the best Hulu Originals for more info on Hulu’s original programming. Below are links to articles on shows that are original and/or exclusive to Hulu.

A young black boy with the american flag flying behind him like a cape. How to Watch The 1619 Project Episode 3 of season 1 of The 1619 Project, titled "Music", airs Thursday, February 2 on Hulu. This new docuseries expands on the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and the New York Times Magazine in “The 1619 Project.” Through this six-part series, America’s national narrative is reframed to center on the consequences of [Continue Reading]
Four friends on and around a couch in front of a window with someone flying through the air outside How to Watch the Series Extraordinary In a world where everyone has a superpower, Jan is powerless in this new comedy on Hulu. When everyone around her developed a superpower on their 18th birthday, she is pushing 25 with nary a flick of super anything. Between that and her dead-end party shop job, she is feeling stuck in her mundane life [Continue Reading]
A group of six friends sitting on a couch How to Watch How I Met Your Father Episode 2 of season 2 of How I Met Your Father, titled "Midwife Crisis", airs Tuesday, January 31 on Hulu. Inspired by the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother, the show finds Sophie (Hillary Duff) on the search for love, while her future self (Kim Cattrall) narrates to her son in the future the [Continue Reading]
Central cast of Letterkenny standing in front of a bar How to Watch Letterkenny The hit Canadian comedy Letterkenny streams exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. The quirky comedy is about a small town of three constantly feuding communities: the Hicks, the Skids, and the Hockey Players. So let the wacky antics ensue. Starting as a YouTube web series and then commissioned for TV in 2015, the series is loosely [Continue Reading]
A couple sits uncomfortably on a Ferris wheel How to Watch The Wheel The drama film The Wheel, released earlier this year, is now playing on Hulu’s streaming library. The film follows a young couple, Albee (Amber Midthunder) and Walker (Taylor Gray), on the brink of divorce. When they rent an AirBnB mountain getaway to try and save their fledgling marriage, their issues soon create drama between their hosts, the [Continue Reading]
A woman reflected horizontally across time in the 20th century and 19th century How to Watch the Series Kindred The miniseries Kindred is a part of FX on Hulu. From Octavia E. Butler’s acclaimed novel comes the story of Dana James (Mallori Johnson), a young Black woman and aspiring writer who has recently relocated to Los Angeles with her white husband (Micah Stock). She finds herself thrown repeatedly back in time, but for what [Continue Reading]
A Korean man pulling a futuristic patch off one eye How to Watch Connect on Hulu The new Korean drama Connect is available to stream on the Hulu Streaming Library. Ha Dongsoo (Jung Hae-in) is an immortal human “Connect,” who is kidnapped by organ harvesters for his eyes. But when he awakes mid-surgery, he manages to escape with one eye still intact. He soon discovers he can still see the vision [Continue Reading]
A young black woman and a ghost behind her with text in neon lights How to Watch Darby and the Dead The quirky new film, Darby and the Dead premiered on Hulu on Friday, December 2. Ever since a childhood near-death experience, Darby Harper (Riele Downs) has been seeing dead people. Over the years, she has become a counselor to lonely lost spirits, but introverted and cut off from her peers. When the high school queen [Continue Reading]
A woman in front of a collage of floral and plant sexual imagery How to Watch Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne premieres on Tuesday, November 29, on Hulu. This new documentary series follows Cara Delevingne as the actress and LGBTQ+ icon goes on an immersive journey exploring human sexuality, its joys, mysteries, and changeable nature. Cara puts her heart and body on the line in an unfiltered look through her personal [Continue Reading]
welcome to chippendales How to Watch Welcome to Chippendales Welcome to Chippendales is a new true-crime drama about the story behind the founding of the male strip club and dance troupe, premiering on Tuesday, November 22, on Hulu. The series stars Kumail Nanjiani as Somen “Steve” Banerjee, an Indian immigrant who starts the infamous male revue in the late 1970s. While the path leads [Continue Reading]

What Other Shows Does Hulu Have On-Demand

In addition to original shows, Hulu’s streaming library carries shows from most major broadcast and cable networks. The network link’s below will show you what is available to watch now on Hulu from each network.

In addition to the latest network TV episodes, Hulu provides thousands of episodes of hit TV shows on cable. Granted, many are on a one-season delay. Meaning Hulu won’t air a season until it’s roughly a year old. However, there are a few exceptions. If this is a concern, you may want to look into the Hulu Live TV service, which includes a cloud DVR for recording shows.

Hulu also has an arsenal of original programming. Shows like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Harlots” are only available on Hulu, adding additional value to the service.

In addition to a vast library of TV shows, Hulu also offers a decent selection of movies. You can check on Hulu’s Website to see what is new every month on Hulu.

See All The New Shows On Hulu This Month

Frequently Asked Questions About Hulu

Being a popular service, I get a ton of questions about Hulu. You can find the answer to all of them below.

Which Devices Does Hulu Support

Hulu is supported by the following popular streaming devices and smart TVs:

PlayStation 4 and 5 support Hulu’s on-demand streaming library, but not the Hulu Live TV service.

Here is a full listing of devices supported by Hulu. If you do not have one of these streaming devices, Hulu supports most modern browsers. Therefore, you can hook your laptop or PC to your television and use your TV as a monitor. I explain how to do this in my guide on How to watch Netflix on your TV. Hulu is supported on the following browsers: Internet Explorer 10 or above, Firefox 15 or above, Safari 5 or above, Chrome, or Edge.

What Are Hulu Profiles

Hulu allows subscribers to set up six profiles on one account regardless of the plan. Each Hulu profile provides a personalized streaming experience for everyone in the house, including the kids. Profiles track which shows and movies you enjoy and help you discover new ones with recommendations based on your tastes. 

You can edit or remove Profiles from your online Account page from a computer or mobile device (Account Link for mobile.)

When you create a new Profile, you can toggle the Kids switch ON to make it a Kids Profile. This will restrict the user of that profile to a special “Kids hub,” a safe space for your children to search and stream while avoiding mature content on Hulu. You can also edit a profile at a later time to toggle the Kids switch on or off. 

What is Hulu Watch Party

Hulu’s “Watch Party” feature allows you to watch movies and TV series with friends in different locations. This feature synchronizes the video, so all participants are watching simultaneously. Watch Party also adds a group chat ability to the movie. Here are some essential things to keep in mind about the new Watch Party feature:

  • Up to 8 people can join a single Watch Party session. Participants who share the same Hulu account can participate through their profile.
  • Watch Party is only for users who are at least 18 years old. Kids’ profiles cannot participate in Watch Party.
  • Watch Party currently only works on your web browser. You can’t use it on streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.

Thousands of on-demand movies and shows from Hulu’s streaming library are available with Hulu Watch Party. Look for a Watch Party icon on the details page of movies and TV shows to see if this feature is available on the video you want to watch.

To start a Watch Party:

  1. Visit Hulu.com on a supported web browser
  2. Find a title available with Watch Party — look for this icon next to a video
  3. Select the Watch Party icon on the Details page
  4. Click Start Watching
  5. Once in playback, select the chain icon to copy the link, then send it to other participants so they can join you.

To join a Watch Party, use the invitation link you received from the Hulu Watch Party host. Remember that you must be a Hulu (No Ads) or Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV subscriber and be at least 18 years old to use the feature. 

What Is Hulu Video And Audio Quality

Hulu On-Demand supports up to 4K Ultra HD video if the show supports 4K video; this includes most Hulu Original shows. Hulu supports 4K Ultra on the following devices. 

Hulu 4K Support

  • Apple TV (5th generation or later)
  • Chromecast Ultra
  • Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
  • LG TVs (2017 UHD models or later)
  • Roku and Roku Stick (3810X, 3920X, 4400X and 46*0X models) and Roku Smart Soundbar
  • Vizio SmartCast TVs
  • Xbox One (S and X models)

Hulu Live TV can be viewed in 720p and 1080p at 60fps high definition (HD) video qualities. It depends on the show being available in that resolution and if Hulu supports your device at that resolution. Below is a list of devices and the video resolution Hulu supports on that device.

720p/60fps:

  • Android TV (select models)
  • Android phones and tablets (select models)
  • Apple TV
  • Chrome browser (supported versions)
  • Chromecast
  • Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
  • Fire Tablet (4th generation or later)
  • iPhone and iPad
  • LG TV (WebOS 3.0 and above)
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PlayStation 4
  • Roku (supported versions)
  • Samsung TV (select models)
  • Vizio SmartCast TVs

1080p/60fps:

  • Apple TV (4th generation or later)
  • Chromecast
  • Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
  • Playstation 4
  • Samsung TV (select models)
  • Xbox One

In other words, if the show has availability in 1080p high definition, Hulu will offer it in that resolution. To stream Hulu in 1080p HD, it’s recommended you have an internet connection speed of at least 3 Mbps. However, it may be possible to stream at 720p with just 1.5 Mbps without much buffering. It’s recommended to have 8 Mbps to stream Hulu Live TV.

Hulu Audio

Hulu Live TV supports 5.1 surround sound audio. Hulu on-demand can stream 4K on some titles but usually streams at 1080p.

How To Subscribe To Hulu Live TV

The Price of Hulu Live TV is $69.99 per month. Hulu Live TV plan includes the Hulu on-demand with limited ads. Subscribers can have ad-free on-demand with Live TV for $82.99 per month.

  1. In your browser, go to this Hulu + Live TV signup page and choose “Sign up.”
  2. Enter an email address, choose a password, and personal information.
  3. Click Continue, then enter your payment information.
  4. Choose any premium add-ons like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, or STARZ. If you chose Hulu + Live TV, you also could choose from the live add-on options.
  5. Once you complete the subscription signup, you can access Hulu + Live TV.

How To Change Your Hulu Subscription

For current Hulu Streaming Library subscribers, the steps to add live TV to your Hulu subscription are below.

  1. Log in to your Hulu account on the web. From the Hulu home screen, mouse over your name in the upper right and select “Account” from the drop-down.
  2. Scroll down to the “Your Subscription” section and click on “Manage Plan.” update hulu plan
  3. Choose one of the Hulu Live TV plans. Both include the Hulu On-Demand library you currently subscribe to. The $69.99/month plan shows ads when streaming on-demand content. The $82.99 plan does not. However, you will have to watch commercials while watching live TV. Once you select your plan, click “Review Changes.”hulu account update step
  4. Enter your Zip Code
  5. Click Submit. You may be asked a few questions to personalize your Hulu experience.

How To Watch Live TV on Hulu

Based on the type of device you are using, Live TV will work in slightly different ways. Let’s look at how Hulu Live TV acts on various devices.

Hulu Live TV on TV Streaming Devices

hulu home screen

On Streaming devices, you should see a “Live” menu option on your Hulu Home screen. Select Live, and Live TV pops on. The last channel watched will be on just as if you turned on a television. You change the channel using the channel guide. To access the guide, press down on your remote or controller (swipe up on Apple TV). 

hulu Live tv guide

You then use the arrows on the guide to navigate the menu and press OK to select a show. Based on where the show is currently airing, you will be presented with the following options:

  • By Selecting a Show Currently Airing, you can:
    • Watch Live on That Network
    • Start Over (Watch from the Beginning)
    • Record (Records the Show in your cloud DVR)
    • Show Details (Information on the show)
  • By Selecting a Show Airing Later, you can:
    • Change the Channel to That Network
    • Record (Records the Show in your cloud DVR)
    • Show Details (Information on the show)

Recorded shows are saved under the “My Suff” menu from the home screen. Within “My Stuff,” you will be able to watch and delete recorded shows.

Hulu Live TV on Mobile Devices

hulu live tv on mobile

On iOS and Android devices, you will find a “Live” icon that looks like a lightning bolt at the bottom of the screen from within the Hulu app. If your device is turned vertically (up and down), you will see a show with the channel guide below. Turn your device horizontally (side to side) to watch live TV on full screen. Return the screen to a vertical position if you need to access the guide. To use the guide, follow the following instructions:

  • Select the Network to watch that channel live
  • Click a show currently airing to watch from the start, record, or see the show details.
  • Clicking a show airing later will allow you to record or see the details
  • Tap the playback window and click the “X” in the upper left of the screen to return to the home screen

Recorded shows are saved under the “My Suff” menu option at the bottom of the Home screen. Within “My Stuff,” you will be able to watch and delete recorded shows.

Hulu Live TV on The Web

To use Hulu Live TV on the web, log into your Hulu account at Hulu.com and select “Live” from the Home menu. The guide will appear with playback in a box at the lower right of the screen. You can expand the playback window to full screen or close it. If you are in full screen and want to return to the guide, select the Live TV menu on the main navigation bar at the top of the screen During playback. Selecting shows from the guide panel works similarly to the guide functions on a TV streaming device. 

  • By Selecting a Show Currently Airing, you can:
    • Watch Live on That Network
    • Start Over (Watch from the Beginning)
    • Record (Records the Show in your cloud DVR)
    • Show Details (Information on the show)
  • By Selecting a Show Airing Later, you can:
    • Change the Channel to That Network
    • Record (Records the Show in your cloud DVR)
    • Show Details (Information on the show)

How Many People Can Watch Hulu at Once

The Full answers to this question are in the article: How Many People Can Watch Hulu at One Time.

Subscribers to Hulu and Hulu+ Live TV can watch Hulu on two different devices at the same time. Hulu + Live TV subscribers can add the unlimited screens feature for an additional $9.99 per month to watch Hulu on as many devices as they like at the same time.

What is Hulu Plus?

Hulu Plus or (Hulu+) no longer exists. When Hulu first started, they would offer a free version that you could watch online. The Hulu Plus version was a paid version of Hulu that opened up more content and provided customers with the ability to use mobile and streaming devices.

Hulu provides an ad-free option for On-Demand streaming. However, the live service will include ads. Even with the ad-free service, a few shows will have an ad at the beginning of the show. This is due to licensing agreements with the owner of the show.

How Do You Cancel Hulu?

It’s effortless to cancel Hulu. Simply follow these steps.

  1. Log in to your Hulu account.
  2. Click on your profile name in the top right-hand corner of the page.
  3. Under Your Subscription, click “Cancel Subscription.”
  4. Provide a reason for canceling
  5. Finalize your cancellation.

It will cancel at the end of this billing cycle. (Usually within 30 days at most.)

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