Television is finally growing up. For most of us, that's a big deal:it means fewer commercials and more access to on-demand titles that we might not otherwise have the means to watch.
It also means we're about to see several giant companies rise to the top of what promises to be a host of streaming TV services. 10 Niche Streaming Services For Those Who Hate Netflix. 10 Niche Streaming Services For Those Who Hate. general content What can you do if you want to see something a little less conventional? You better check out these alternative streaming services full of niche content. Read more . Hulu is, of course, a household name in this industry. But how does their premium service stack up against the competition these days?
We're here to help you decide if a Hulu Basic account is worth the asking price, so consider the following points before making a decision.
Note: Plus, you also have the option of a Hulu Live subscription to stream over 50 different channels in real time as they air, but that's outside the scope of this article, which only focuses on Hulu Basic.
Let's address the rumours:yes, it seems that everyone from Apple to Verizon wants to be your only TV store. But right now, no one beats Hulu for up-to-date TV episodes.
A Hulu Plus subscription gives you direct access to content from ABC, NBC, A&E, Comedy Central, FOX, The History Channel and many more, and in many cases, you can watch current episodes the day after they air.
Apple also wants to create partnerships like these, but rumors indicate a lot of false starts at the negotiating table. If you're not in much of a rush right now and would like to see what things look like after the dust settles, check out what Apple pulls out of its magic hat six months later.
And consider this:Netflix costs $10 a month, but it usually only has past seasons of non-Netflix original shows. For $7.99 a month, Hulu Plus is an easy option for anyone who wants to keep up with current shows.
If you're even remotely interested in signing up for Hulu Plus, it means you're probably sick of cable TV for one reason or another. You're not alone:more people than ever are cutting the cord Everyone else is cutting the cord, so why aren't you? Everyone else is cutting the cord, so why isn't it you? I cut the cord in 2013 and more and more people are following suit, ditching their cable service altogether. But not everyone is cutting the cord, and we decided to find out why... Read More .
Hulu Plus mainly eliminates the worst mistakes of big cable. The $7.99 per month tier still has limited ads, but the $11.99 per month tier does not. Netflix, of course, has no commercials of any description. Purchasing individual episodes directly from the Google Play or iTunes stores also doesn't carry the burden of ads, and as long as you're a member of those ecosystems, you retain ownership of the content you purchase.
Right now, Hulu Plus is the closest thing to traditional cable, without the disdain most cable companies have for their customers.
Hulu's new $39.99 per month Live TV service brings you even closer by offering live TV on most set-top boxes, like Chromecast, Roku, and Apple TV, as well as mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. You can also access the Hulu catalog and new episodes with limited commercial interruption.
If you're the kind of person who likes to wait until Netflix has a full season to stream at will, any of Hulu's three service plans will seem like overkill, or even extravagance if your entertainment budget is tight. . which maybe it should be.
But for true TV enthusiasts who keep up with multiple shows and want to talk about the latest plot developments, you can't do better than Hulu right now.
Hulu used to be one of the few names operating in the TV streaming space. As a result, it enjoyed very little competition.
Now, enough of the so-called prestige and niche networks. Are there too many streaming TV services? Are there too many streaming TV services? So, you've thrown the cord and launched yourself into the world of cord cutting. But what now? Is it possible that there are too many streaming TV services to choose from these days? Read More
Yes, AMC is currently a barrier to participating in Hulu's content aggregation. Discovery and Viacom also do not wish to participate at this time.
Hulu won't provide access to everything you want to watch. Neither Hulu nor any of the other streaming services it currently offers. King of the Hill To see in demand, for example, which is a tragedy. So if there's a particular show or even an entire genre that you're seriously committed to, my advice for Hulu Plus is the same as my advice for any of the other services out there... do your homework.
As the market becomes more segmented and capitalism works its competitive magic, we see more and more major content partnerships end, with Disney and Netflix going their separate ways Disney is launching a streaming service for rival Netflix Disney is launching a streaming service for rival Netflix Disney has announced that it plans to launch its own streaming service in 2019. Which means its current distribution deal with Netflix is coming to an end. Read More They're all doing original shows, too. The point is that no single streaming service will offer everything you want all the time.
You are on a budget. We all are. Unless you're flush with cash, you don't just want to cut the cord with the cable company. Should you cut the cord or keep your cable TV? Should you cut the cord or keep your cable TV? If you're still stuck with your cable subscription, but are debating whether it's time to make a switch, we're here to help. This guide will help you decide. Read More
We'll pass judgment on Hulu Plus in a moment, but consider this final counterpoint and perhaps an attractive compromise:buy your TV episodes direct.
Some of the same restrictions apply here as above:Not everything will be available within your ecosystem of choice. However, there's a good chance he's loyal to devices made by a particular tech company, be it Google, Apple, or whoever. And since these companies also sell TV episodes and movies, buying them a la carte makes sense if you like the content enough to want to keep access to it.
It also gives you the benefit of being able to re-download your previous purchases, including full movies and individual episodes. Netflix Offers Downloads How to Download Netflix Videos for Offline Viewing How to Download Netflix Videos for Offline Viewing Netflix now allows you to download select movies and TV shows for offline viewing. Which is good. This article explains everything you need to know about downloading Netflix videos on your device. Read More We're talking about building a personal media library that's always with you.
It's worth taking a look. If you're trying to watch less TV, how binge-watching hurts your health, how binge-watching hurts your health, the rise of streaming services has helped make binge-watching a very popular pastime. . Unfortunately, there are some potential negative health consequences of excessive television viewing. Read More
Hulu has come a long way. Because it maintains a commitment to adding new features on a regular basis and offers a more cable-like experience without the cable bugs, it's a very attractive option.
Overall, I'd say yes. Hulu Plus is worth its money, at least for now. That's not to say that other services don't offer new and improved features that may outperform it in the future, but for now, Hulu Plus is a good buy.
The service is ideal for anyone who wants to stay up to date on their favorite shows so they can talk about them with friends at work or school. Even the most expensive tier, at $40 per month, feels like a good buy when you consider what cable service used to cost the average household.
If you have any of the currently available set-top boxes (such as Google Chrome, Roku, or Apple TV), you can access the full functionality of any of Hulu's service tiers.
The way I see it, Hulu Plus is the best solution available now for streaming TV. It really gets to Netflix's most critical vulnerability, which is the lack of current episodes. Hulu offers recent episodes, as well as previous seasons, for weekends dedicated to catching up on the couch.
At the very least, it's worth doing a free trial for a spin. You probably already own at least one device that supports Hulu services, so why not see if it's for you?
If you already paid for Hulu Plus, what do you think? It is well worth the money? What do you like about it? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
