Hulu Live TV Service Increases Its Subscription Fees As Well
Gear up, folks! Your monthly entertainment budget is about to take another hit.
Hulu with Live TV, the outstanding live TV alternative, offering a blend of live and on-demand programming, is upping the ante once again. According to a statement on Hulu's support page for price changes, starting December 18, both ad-supported and ad-free Live TV packages will see a rise in costs. The ad-free version will climb to $71 per month from the current $61, and the ad-supported tier will increase from $55 to $65 per month – the same cost as the recently bumped up YouTube TV subscription. Joy.
A representative from Hulu verified the upcoming change, communicating it to customers via email today.
Much like YouTube TV, Hulu's live and linear tiers let you customize your experience, with premium add-ons available for HBO Max and Showtime, priced at $15 and $11 per month respectively. Fancy additional networks or even unlimited screens? That'll cost you another $5-$10 per month each feature. In essence, if Hulu is your go-to cable replacement and home entertainment hub, that Live TV package – with its $10 monthly increase – can quickly become a pricey investment.
The rub here is that all the top live and linear streaming services seem to be lining up for a price bump. YouTube TV kicked things off by hiking its monthly subscription cost to $65 back in June, while Fubo TV's family plan has leaped to $65 after promotional pricing as well.
Bear in mind that affordable live TV cord-cutting alternatives do exist, but you'll have to compromise on certain features. For example, Sling TV is a viable option if you don't mind paying for some live TV while supplementing with premium content from another service like Netflix or HBO Max. This is my preferred setup at home and it's fantastic, but keep in mind, the number of live channels I need is quite limited, and Sling may not be a perfect replacement for those who are diehard Hulu fans.
As we've crossed the line where cord-cutting is no longer the always cheaper option, it's worth considering how much you're willing to spend to cut the cord. Cord-cutting does help in avoiding some predatory fees and hidden contract agreements that make traditional cable providers infuriating. However, significant savings are proving harder to come by, especially for those subscribing to multiple services for their entertainment needs.
Perhaps it's time to question how much is too much to break free from the traditional TV chains.
Additional Insights:
- At present, the prices for major live TV streaming services are as follows:
- Hulu with Live TV: $83 per month for its base package, offering over 85 channels, the Hulu on-demand library, and Disney+ and ESPN+ access (ad-supported).
- YouTube TV: $83 per month for its base plan, providing more channels than Hulu, though an additional $10 for 4K add-on.
- FuboTV: $85 per month for its basic plan, but missing several Warner Bros. Discovery channels.
- DirecTV Stream: $87 per month for its standard package, offering a variety of channels, including local sports networks.
- Sling TV: Starts at $46 per month for either its Orange or Blue packages, with a combined option available for $61 per month.
- Philo: Provides over 70 channels for $28 per month, making it one of the most affordable options.
- Considerations like channel selection, DVR functionality, and other features like on-demand content access come into play when choosing a live TV streaming service. Alternatives include budget-friendly options like Philo, customizable plans with sports and local networks like Sling TV, and no-contract options like DirecTV's genre packs for niche viewers.
- Despite the anticipated increase in costs, Hulu's confirmation that it will raise the prices for its Live TV packages from December 18 does not come as a complete surprise, given the rising trends among other live TV streaming services.
- As the costs for all top live and linear streaming services like Hulu, YouTube TV, and Fubo TV are gradually increasing, it's crucial to evaluate whether one's monthly entertainment budget can accommodate these pricey investments.
- If you're conscious of costs, you might want to look into affordable alternatives like Sling TV, which offers the flexibility to pay for some live TV while supplementing with premium content from other services like Netflix or HBO Max.
- As we approach the future, it's essential to question how much we're willing to spend to break free from traditional TV chains, striking a balance between the desirable features of tech-based entertainment and our financial constraints.
