Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Hulu + Live TV is jacking the rates starting December 18

By

Hulu is upping the monthly subscription cost of Hulu + Live TV by an extra $10 per month — the second price hike in 2019 for the live streaming service. This brings the starting price of a membership to $55 per month as of December 18. The price of the regular Hulu on-demand service (ad-supported and premium) is unchanged.

The move comes less than one month after Sony announced it would terminate its PlayStation Vue live TV streaming service in January 2020, citing the high costs of providing content.

Recommended Videos

Hulu’s rationale for the price hike uses different language, however, saying in a news release that “the new price better reflects the substantial value of Hulu + Live TV, and allows us to continue offering all of the popular live news, sports, and entertainment programming included in the plan. “Perhaps with one less competitor to contend with, Hulu feels it can justify a higher price for its offering.

Related

It’s also possible that Hulu, which is entirely controlled — and majority-owned — by Disney, is being used to shore up losses that the company might have incurred to get Disney+ off the ground.

Justified or not, the price hike continues to push the cost of so-called cord-cutting options ever higher. Even with a recently offered bundle price that lets you combine Hulu + Live TV with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $52 per month — which will rise to $62 per month once the price hike kicks in — we’re creeping ever closer to prices we’re used to seeing from cable and satellite companies.

Nonetheless, Hulu + Live TV remains a compelling live TV product. With more than 60 channels, included DVR functionality, and access to the entire on-demand and ad-free library of the regular Hulu service, there’s a lot of value for those who want a close-to-cable substitute.

If you’re a Hulu + Live TV subscriber now looking for cheaper alternatives, you certainly have options. YouTube TV is currently more expensive at $50 per month but will be less expensive after December 18. Sling TV, even with its combined Orange + Blue package, is only $40 per month.

You may also be tempted to switch to FuboTV. That service isn’t any cheaper than the upcoming price of Hulu + Live TV plan at $55 per month, but if you’re a sports fan, it has a huge range of options — everything except ESPN (a Disney property).

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Simon Cohen
Simon Cohen
Contributing Editor, A/V
Simon Cohen covers a variety of consumer technologies, but has a special interest in audio and video products, like spatial…
The best live TV streaming services for cord cutters in 2024
best streaming TV service

If you're thinking of cutting the cable cord, it's never been a better time, and networking and streaming giants are falling all over themselves to provide the best alternatives for live TV streaming. From Hulu with Live TV to Sling TV to YouTube TV, there are a number of ways to watch televised events live or catch up on your favorite network shows without paying for cable. Each of these services has its own price tag and list of special features to stand out from one another. However, differentiating between them as a consumer can feel overwhelming. We’ve done our best to simplify the shopping process for you and explain the best live TV streaming services available today.
Hulu with Live TV

Price: $70 per month for Hulu Live TV (Ads), ESPN+ (Ads), and Disney+ (Ads); ad-free from $75 per month
Included major networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW
Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, select Roku and Roku TV models, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, Echo Show, Xbox consoles, and web browsers
Number of simultaneous streams: two at home; Unlimited Screens add-on ($10) allows for unlimited at home and three on mobile.
Who it's for: Hulu users looking to upgrade to livestreaming TV -- and just about everyone else.
Where you can watch: U.S. only

Read more
NFL games today: schedule, channels, live streams for December 31
A football player holds a ball.

It's Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season, meaning teams have only two games left before the playoffs. After Thursday night's game, seven teams have clinched playoff berths. Those teams are the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys.

It's a packed New Year's Eve schedule, as 14 games will be played on December 31. The best game of the day features the Miami Dolphins taking on the Baltimore Ravens. There is still time to purchase NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV. Fans can watch every game with Sunday Ticket, now as low as $39. Below, check out the NFL Week 17 schedule, channels, and live-stream information.
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills start time, channel, and live stream

Read more
How to watch 2023 AEW Worlds End: date, match card, live stream, and start time
Logo for AEW Worlds End.

Before the ball drops in 2023, All Elite Wrestling is giving fans one more pay-per-view to close out the year with AEW Worlds End. This marks the inaugural edition of Worlds End and the first AEW PPV since Full Gear.

AEW Worlds End will be headlined by MJF, who defends the AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe. For several weeks, MJF has been tormented by a masked figure known as "The Devil." On the go-home edition of Dynamite, MJF lost the ROH World Tag Team Championships to The Devil's Men after Samoa Joe, who voiced Sweet Tooth in Twisted Metal, did not show up to the ring due to injury. However, it was all a plan, as Joe worked with The Devil to fake his injury. Joe then hit MJF with multiple chair shots to close Dynamite, gaining the upper hand heading into Worlds End.

Read more