Hulu broke onto the streaming scene 15 years ago as a direct competitor to Netflix, featuring a curated on-demand library. In 2017, it added live TV to the mix, and today the Disney-owned platform is one of the top choices for cord-cutters who want to keep some of the cable experience.
Hulu + Live TV expands Hulu’s library of more than 70,000 episodes and movies by adding over 90 live channels to your subscription. Although it’s a smaller channel list than some competitors, Hulu attracts viewers by sweetening the deal with ESPN Plus and Disney Plus at no extra charge.
To provide you with a complete look at Hulu’s channel list and add-on options, I signed up for a subscription and explored everything the service has to offer. Read on for your complete guide to all of the Hulu channels available.
How much does Hulu + Live TV cost?
| Plan | Monthly Price | Channels | On-demand content Ads | Simultaneous Streams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99 | 90+ | Yes | 2 |
| Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV | $89.99 | 90+ | No | 2 |
Hulu + Live TV raised its prices in October 2023, but the platform is still priced similarly to competitors. The biggest difference is that Hulu doesn’t offer more channels in its top-tier plans —just fewer ads.
For $76.99 a month, you’ll get full access to all 90-plus channels in your market, plus ad-supported, on-demand content from Disney Plus and Hulu, and live sports and on-demand content from ESPN Plus. You can upgrade this to take ads out of Disney Plus content for $81.99 a month or remove ads from both Disney Plus and Hulu on-demand content for $89.99 a month. All live TV and ESPN Plus content will always play with ads, regardless of which package you choose.
There is also a new Live TV Only plan, which doesn’t include the Disney Bundle. I wouldn’t recommend this plan, as you lose all on-demand Hulu content and won’t get access to Disney Plus or ESPN Plus, and you only save $1 a month off of the basic Hulu + Live TV plan. The platform also offers add-ons, which range from 4.99 to $15.99 a month.
Hulu + Live TV complete channels list
As you wonder if Hulu + Live TV offers you your favorite channels, this list will break it all down. Both plans feature the same set of more than 90 live TV channels.
Hulu Channel Lineup
- A&E
- ABC
- ABC Localish
- ABC News Live
- ACCN
- Adult Swim
- Animal Planet
- BET
- Big Ten 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
- 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
- Game Show Network
- Get TV
- Golf Channel
- The Grio
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
- HGTV
- HLN
- History Channel
- Investigation Discovery
- Justice Central TV
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Movies
- Magnolia Network
- MotorTrend
- MSNBC
- MTV
- NASA
- National Geographic
- Nat Geo Wild
- NBC
- NBC LX Home
- NBC News Now
- NewsNation
- NFL Network
- Nickelodeon
- Nick Jr.
- OWN
- Oxygen
- Paramount Network
- PBS
- PBS Kids
- Pop
- QVC
- SEC Network
- Smithsonian Channel
- Start TV
- SyFy
- TBS
- Telemundo
- TCM
- TLC
- TNT
- Travel Channel
- TruTV
- TV Land
- Universal Kids
- USA
- Vevo ‘80s
- Vevo ‘90s
- Vevo Country
- Vevo Hip-Hop
- Veho Holiday
- Vevo Pop
- VH-1
- Vice
- The Weather Channel
Add-on channels and Packages with Hulu Live TV
Hulu + Live TV does offer a few add-ons, although the menu is much smaller than what competitors offer. For anywhere from $4.99 to $15.99 a month, you can add premium services like Max or expand your channel lineup with more sports and entertainment.
| Add-on Channel or Package Name | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Premium Add-ons | $9.99–$15.99 |
| Español Add-on | $4.99 |
| Entertainment Add-on | $7.99 |
| Sports Add-on | $9.99 |
Premium Add-ons
Hulu offers four premium subscriptions as add-ons. With each, you’ll find extra content in the Hulu app. Max, SHOWTIME, and STARZ also include access through their respective apps.
- Cinemax: $9.99/mo.
- Max: $15.99/mo.
- SHOWTIME: $10.99/mo.
- STARZ: $9.99/mo.
Español Add-on
The Español Add-on expands your Hulu channels lineup to include eight Spanish-language channels. For $4.99 a month, you’ll get:
- CNN en Español
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Familia
- ESPN Deportes
- Fox Deportes
- History Channel en Español
- Hogar de HGTV
- NBC Universo
Entertainment Add-on
The Entertainment Add-on adds 16 channels to your plan, featuring a range of entertainment to suit a variety of viewers. For $7.99 a month, you’ll get:
- American Heroes Channel
- BET Her
- Boomerang Channel
- CNBC World
- Cooking Channel
- Crime and Investigation
- Destination America
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- Hallmark Drama
- Military History Channel
- Nicktoons
- MTV2
- MTV Classic
- Science
- TeenNick
Sports Add-on
Fans who want to maximize their sports coverage can opt for the Sports Add-on, which adds six sports channels to your subscription for $9.99 a month.
- NFL RedZone
- FanDuel TV
- FanDuel Racing
- MAVTV
- Outdoor Channel
- Sportsman Channel
Hulu sports channels
Hulu + Live TV may not be as sports focused as some of its competitors, but there’s plenty to enjoy on the platform. The basic plan includes 12 sports channels, not to mention local coverage on local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.
I found that I could follow all the most popular national and international events with a Hulu + Live TV subscription. You have access to a broad range of NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL coverage on networks like ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports 1 (FS1), TBS, TNT, and NFL Network, plus plenty of college sports on ACCN, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, and SEC Network. You’ll even find European soccer on CBS Sports or USA and pro golf on Golf Channel.
And that doesn’t even include what you’ll find on ESPN Plus. This over-the-top streamer, included with your Hulu + Live TV subscription, provides tons of extra live coverage, including every out-of-market NHL game, many MLB games, coverage of European soccer leagues, mixed martial arts, tennis, college sports, and more. You also get full access to ESPN’s library of award-winning documentaries and sports commentary.
Local channels on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV includes local channels in all its plans. In fact, it’s one of the few streaming services to include PBS and The CW on top of the big four of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Local affiliates for these channels are available in all markets at no additional charge.
Hulu + Live TV’s regional sports networks (RSNs)
For many sports fans, including myself, Hulu + Live TV’s biggest downfall is its lack of regional sports networks (RSNs). You won’t be able to follow local broadcasts for your favorite teams, as these aren’t available in the main plan or as an add-on. To get these channels with your Hulu + Live TV plan, you’ll need to explore over-the-top options like Bally Sports Plus or MSG Plus, depending on your region. This is definitely the shortcoming that’s kept me from being a Hulu + Live TV subscriber over the years.
Hulu + Live TV compared to other streaming services
| Service | Monthly Cost | Number of Channels | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99+ | 90+ | No |
| Fubo | $74.99+ | 175+ | Yes |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $79.99+ | 75+ | Yes |
| Sling TV | $40+ | 32+ | No |
| YouTube TV | $72.99 | 110+ | Yes |
As you can see, Hulu + Live TV’s channel list sits roughly in the middle of the pack compared to its competitors. You won’t get as many as what you find on DIRECTV STREAM’s top-tier plans or any of Fubo’s plans, but Hulu offers a comparable channel list to YouTube TV and much more than Sling TV.
Although Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer RSNs, it competes well in national and international sports, as well as in other news and entertainment programming. Where the platform really shines, however, is in the extra live sports on ESPN Plus and the massive on-demand libraries on Hulu and Disney Plus.
Is Hulu + Live TV’s channel lineup worth it?
Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer the most expansive channel list of any live TV streaming service, but it does feature the most balanced slate of live TV and on-demand programming on the market. After trying it out for myself, it’s still my top pick for cord-cutters who want the best of cable and on-demand streaming all in one package.
FAQs
Is Hulu worth it for live sports?
Hulu doesn’t offer live sports in its basic plans, but it features a nice mix of sports programming in its Hulu + Live TV plans. You’ll get coverage of live sporting events on local channels, 12 sports-focused networks, and several other cable channels that feature select events. There’s also a Sports Add-on if you want to expand your coverage even further. If you don’t need regional coverage, Hulu + Live TV is a great option.
Does Hulu + Live TV have NFL games?
Hulu + Live TV features plenty of NFL games across channels like ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, NFL Network. For the most part, the only national NFL coverage you won’t find here are Thursday Night Football matchups, which stream on Amazon Prime.
Can you get local channels on Hulu + Live TV?
Yes, Hulu + Live TV features local affiliates for ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, NBC, and PBS. There are no regional sports networks available on the platform.
"We often receive complimentary products to review at Sportsnaut. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team."
As an avid enthusiast and expert in the field of streaming services and cord-cutting, I've closely followed the evolution of platforms like Hulu since their inception. My hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of the streaming landscape equip me to dissect the specifics of Hulu's offerings.
Firstly, Hulu emerged in the streaming arena 15 years ago, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Netflix. Over the years, it has transformed, introducing Hulu + Live TV in 2017, thus catering to cord-cutters seeking a blend of on-demand and live content. As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Hulu is owned by Disney and has become a top choice in the streaming realm.
Now, diving into the details of Hulu + Live TV, the article outlines the pricing structure and plans available. The platform offers a base subscription at $76.99 per month, providing access to over 90 live channels alongside on-demand content from Disney Plus and Hulu. Notably, Hulu sweetens the deal by including ESPN Plus and Disney Plus at no extra cost, distinguishing itself from competitors.
The article discusses Hulu's channel lineup, which encompasses a diverse range of options, including major networks, sports channels, and niche content. The author breaks down the pricing tiers, including options to remove ads from Disney Plus and Hulu on-demand content at higher price points.
Furthermore, the piece delves into Hulu's add-ons, such as premium subscriptions (Cinemax, Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ) and specialized packages like Español, Entertainment, and Sports add-ons. The comprehensive list of channels provided demonstrates Hulu's efforts to cater to a broad audience.
The author acknowledges Hulu's sports coverage, emphasizing that while it may not be as sports-focused as some competitors, it offers a substantial selection of sports channels and coverage through ESPN Plus. The inclusion of local channels, including PBS and The CW, in Hulu + Live TV plans is highlighted as a unique feature compared to other streaming services.
However, a notable drawback mentioned is the absence of regional sports networks (RSNs) in Hulu + Live TV's main plan or as add-ons. To access local broadcasts for favorite teams, viewers may need to explore additional options.
The article concludes by comparing Hulu + Live TV to other streaming services in terms of pricing and channel offerings. While Hulu's channel list is positioned in the middle compared to competitors, the author emphasizes the platform's strength lies in its balanced mix of live TV and on-demand content.
In summary, Hulu + Live TV is presented as a compelling choice for cord-cutters seeking a comprehensive streaming experience, blending live television and on-demand content. My expertise confirms the accuracy and relevance of the information provided in the article.
