'Cord Cutters" in the US Rejoice, Hulu Live TV Beta launching

[WMGroomAK]

Hulu is officially launching it's Beta for Hulu Live TV today.  This service, priced at $39.99/month, is designed to allow for a subscriber to have access to more than 50 channels from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and local broadcast affiliates. From the Tech Crunch Article:

 

https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/03/hulu-with-live-tv/

 

Quote

The company is unveiling Hulu With Live TV (that’s the official name) at a New York City event for press and advertisers. The announcement (just barely) sticks to CEO Mike Hopkins’ earlier statement that the service would cost “under $40” — my colleague Sarah Perez reported last month that the price would be $39.99.

 

Other companies like AT&T/DirecTV and Google/YouTube have recently launched stripped down cable packages. Like Hulu, they allow you to watch live TV on a variety of devices, for a lower cost than a traditional cable subscription.

 

Hopkins argued today that Hulu is offering more than just a “skinny” cable bundle — it’s an entirely new TV experience, because it blends live TV with Hulu’s on-demand TV library, and because it creates a personalized experience where users get easy access to their favorite shows, movies and channels.

 

With a basic Hulu With Live TV subscription, you can create six individual profiles and view two streams simultaneously. You also get 50 hours of DVR storage. You can pay extra for more storage ($14.99 per month), unlimited simultaneous streams ($14.99), both unlimited storage and simultaneous streams ($19.99) and Showtime ($8.99).

 

Hulu says the live TV experience is rolling out on Xbox One, Apple TV, iOS, Android and Chromecast, with Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Sticks and Samsung Smart TVs coming soon.

 

So basically, from what I've seen of the channel line-up, for about $40/month, you can get most of the channels that basic cable provides through your Hulu Subscription, provided your internet is fast enough.  Considering the cost of cable in my area, the costs are about equivalent for the most basic plans in the area, and this is about $60.00 cheaper than the most expensive plan, plus you're not getting charges the fee for 'equipment rental'.  While I'll still need to have a good internet plan, this seems like a good way to at least cut back on one of my bills...

[79wjd]

I'd like to see how the channel list compares to Sling TV, because Sling is less than half as expensive.

[Orangeator]

3 minutes ago, djdwosk97 said:

I'd like to see how the channel list compares to Sling TV, because Sling is less than half as expensive.

I was just about to mention how Sling TV has to be their biggest competitor.

[WMGroomAK]

Just now, djdwosk97 said:

I'd like to see how the channel list compares to Sling tf

 Found this on Variety:

http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/hulu-live-tv-full-channel-lineup-1202407833/

 

Here’s the full list of the networks available in Hulu With Live TV at launch:

 

21st Century Fox

• Fox*
• Big Ten Network
• Fox Business Network
• Fox News Channel
• Fox regional sports networks
• Fox Sports 1
• Fox Sports 2
• FX
• FXX
• FXM
• National Geographic Channel
• National Geographic Wild

The Walt Disney Co.

• ABC*
• ESPN
• ESPN2
• ESPNU
• ESPNEWS
• ESPN-SEC Network
• Freeform
• Disney Channel
• Disney
• Disney Junior

NBCUniversal

• NBC*
• Telemundo*
• Comcast RSNs
• NECN
• USA Network
• Bravo
• E!
• Syfy
• MSNBC
• CNBC
• NBCSN
• Golf Channel
• Chiller
• Oxygen Network
• Sprout

A+E Networks

• A&E
• History
• Lifetime
• Viceland
• Lifetime Movie Network (LMN)
• FYI

Scripps Networks Interactive

• Food Network
• HGTV
• Travel Channel

Turner

• CNN
• HLN
• CNN International
• TBS
• TNT
• TruTV
• TCM
• Turner Classic Movies
• Cartoon Network & Adult Swim
• Boomerang

CBS Corp.

• CBS*
• CBS Sports Network
• POP

Showtime ($8.99 per month extra)

* Live local TV affiliates available only in select markets.

[WMGroomAK]

16 minutes ago, Orangeator said:

I was just about to mention how Sling TV has to be their biggest competitor.

 

20 minutes ago, djdwosk97 said:

I'd like to see how the channel list compares to Sling tf

Okay, So I found a listing of the Sling TV offerings from CNET dated December of 2016... Not sure how much has changed since then.  Basically with Sling TV Orange + Blue Service ($40/month), you are getting the following channels that are not offered on Hulu Live:

• AMC
• AXS TV
• BBC America
• Bloomberg TV
• Cheddar
• Comedy Central
• El Ray Netowrk
• Flama
• Galavision
• IFC
• Local Now
• Maker
• Newsy
• NFL Netowrk
• Nick Jr.
• Polaris

Based on the same list, you are getting the following channels on Hulu Live that are (were?) not offered on the Sling TV plan:

• ABC
• Big Ten Network
• Boomerang
• CBS
• CBS Sports Network
• Chiller
• CNBC
• CNN International
• Comcast RSNs
• Disney
• Disney Jr.
• E!
• ESPNU
• ESPNEWS
• ESPN-SEC Network
• Fox Business
• Fox News
• FYI
• FXM
• Golf Channel
• HLN
• Lifetime Movie Network
• MSNBC
• NECN
• Oxygen Network
• POP
• Sprout
• TCM
• Telemundo
• TruTV
• Turner Classic Movie

Sorry for the long list...  I would imagine that Hulu is already in plans to add even more channels though.  Great thing is that this is providing even more options to do away with cable boxes completely and it is not like Hulu is getting rid of it's catalog of shows or the day after archiving yet.

[TheUzu]

Streaming live TV defeats the point of cord cutting.

 

Still can't just watch what you want whenever you want, still has an ungodly amount of Viagra adds.

 

Its probably cheaper to just get cable and not use up your data allowance or bandwidth while watching it either.

 

What needs to happen is a Spotify of TV shows and Movies, I'd pay £40 a month for something like that instantly.

 

Bet they'd make more money that way too, but that would the smart thing to do, so it ain't happening.

[79wjd]

8 minutes ago, S.Stephenson said:

Streaming live TV defeats the point of cord cutting. Still can't just watch what you want whenever you want, still has an ungodly amount of Viagra adds. Its probably cheaper to just get cable and not use up your data allowance or bandwidth while watching it either.

 

What needs to happen is a Spotify of TV shows and Movies, I'd pay £40 a month for something like that instantly.

 

Bet they'd make more money that way too, but that would the smart thing to do, so it ain't happening.

Sling TV would cost me $89 whereas cable costs $150 (including cable boxes/dvr service) and I have no data caps and plenty of bandwidth. One of the reasons for cord cutting is cost and these solutions are definitely cheaper.

 

It's called Netflix and Hulu, and it's less than £40.

 

I'm sure they wouldn't, if it was more profitable then they would do that. 

 

 

 

 

The biggest problem with any of these cord cutter packages is convenience, I'd have my parents switch to Sling TV as it's significantly cheaper, but it's just a lot more complicated. 

 

[mynameisjuan]

Cool...Still see no point in paying for a service that shows ads. Same as the base package on Hulu. 

 

I am paying to get rid of dumb ads like boner pills, not being able to shit pills, and skin patches every 10-15 mins. 

[Misanthrope]

What if I cut the cord not just because of shit practices from cable companies but because all of that content is utter fucking garbage anyway?

[Cameleon]

If they could only make all the channels have no adds, and let you jump around in the show you were watching.  Also remove the after ad recap of what you just saw before the ad because the ad was so long you forgot what you were watching.  Finally make the price in the ballpark of $20.

[79wjd]

2 minutes ago, Cameleon said:

If they could only make all the channels have no adds, and let you jump around in the show you were watching.  Also remove the after ad recap of what you just saw before the ad because the ad was so long you forgot what you were watching.  Finally make the price in the ballpark of $20.

While we're at it, I want a free Porsche 918 Spyder.

[TidaLWaveZ]

I use Hooli instead of Hulu anyway.

[TheUzu]

2 hours ago, djdwosk97 said:

Sling TV would cost me $89 whereas cable costs $150 (including cable boxes/dvr service) and I have no data caps and plenty of bandwidth. One of the reasons for cord cutting is cost and these solutions are definitely cheaper.

 

It's called Netflix and Hulu, and it's less than £40.

 

I'm sure they wouldn't, if it was more profitable then they would do that. 

 

 

 

 

The biggest problem with any of these cord cutter packages is convenience, I'd have my parents switch to Sling TV as it's significantly cheaper, but it's just a lot more complicated. 

 

Netflix and Hulu don't have everything, Traditional broadcasting needs to die a horrible death already.

 

Sling TV in your case seems like a great deal considering the alternatives, but I'm still holding out on the £40 a month for everything deal.

 

I hate adds that much that I literally just purchase every show I watch and it works out cheaper, only problems are I don't really take risks on buying a show I haven't heard about.

 

Also if you think TV executives would do a big streaming system if it would make them more money then you just need to look at what happened with the music industry.

[79wjd]

Just now, S.Stephenson said:

Sling TV in your case seems like a great deal considering the alternatives, but I'm still holding out on the £40 a month for everything deal.

 

I hate adds that much that I literally just purchase every show I watch and it works out cheaper, only problems are I don't really take risks on buying a show I haven't heard about.

 

Also if you think TV executives would do a big streaming system if it would make them more money then you just need to look at what happened with the music industry.

That won't happen for a long time as there's no real incentive for companies to sell their content for so cheap. Sling TV offers a lot for $20/month or $25/month, but to get everything I (my parents) would want requires both packages+HBO+Showtime+Hollywood extra+Cinemax+Starz.

 

You have to pick between paying more or having ads. Ads help to subsidize services. If you want everything for so little then you will get more ads. 

 

And the TV industry has the music industry to look at as a model. If they thought it would work, then they would have done it. 

[TheUzu]

Looks like I'm stuck buying everything for the foreseeable future.

 

Somethings going to go down soon at least in the U.K like 500,000 people are using the Kodi boxes to pirate shows 190,000 of which used to have a pay TV service - well according to a YouGov survey.

 

Im expecting a stupid law rather than the media companies to tackle the problem.