Kelly Robertson
Hulu is one of those services that waited for the wide adoption of high-speed internet as it lets anyone watch popular TV shows and series online. That, however, doesn’t mean that Hulu will only work on computers — quite the contrary, it supports a number of platforms, including smart TVs, streaming boxes, blu ray players, game consoles, smartphones, tablets and yes — PCs and Macs. However, Hulu’s key selling point is its price which is way below an average cable TV bill — yet it manages to deliver the same kind of content quality. Pretty cool, right? But there’s more…
How It Works?
Hulu allows you to view both new and old episodes of many of the best shows that TV has to offer…
Content: Hulu’s content partners include all of the major TV stations, providing more than 700 million hours of streamed content. Some of their partners are FOX, ABC, NBC, The CW, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, National Geographic, BET, USA, AMC, ABC Family, and many others. These companies make sure that all of the critically acclaimed TV shows and movies are on the platform, and that new content is added on a daily basis. The best part? Much of the content is available in high definition (HD), though the quality of the video will highly depend on your internet connection and device capabilities.
Hulu Originals: This is Hulu’s take on what Netflix and Amazon are doing. Their shows aren’t that famous yet, but that could easily change. One of the original series — starring James Franco — called 11.22.63, chronicles the life of a time traveler as he tries to prevent JFK’s assassination.
You don’t need the cable TV: With Hulu, you get access to the same content for much less. Whereas a cable TV subscription can easily cost $100, Hulu’s price is either $8 or $12 a month. You will, however, need a stable internet connection to stream the video.
No commercials: Whereas the basic plan, which costs $7.99, includes commercials, there is also the option that lets you watch your favorite shows completely commercial free. This benefit costs an extra $4 per month — for a total of $11.99 per month — and we think it’s well worth the money. You can always start with the more affordable subscription and if you’re annoyed with ads, switch to the commercial free version.
Premium channel add-ons: Let’s say you are a real TV addict and what Hulu offers isn’t good enough for you, then what? You can get add premium channels included in the Showtime package for an additional $8.99 per month.
Not a live streaming service: If you are looking for a live TV service, check out Sling TV. Hulu is an on-demand video service and will typically add new shows the day after they air on TV.
Contract-free: Even when you subscribe, you are free to cancel your subscription at any time. No long-term contracts of any kind are required.
Availability: Hulu works on a number of devices, including:
- Computers and laptops (both Mac and PC)
- Gaming consoles, like the PS3, PS4, Wii and Xbox One
- Streaming boxes such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Nexus Player, Chromecast, etc.
- Smartphones and tablets
- Smart TVs and blu ray players
Free to try: New users can test out Hulu for the first 30 days for free. Nothing and no one forces you to keep using it after that time. See if it works for you — and we’re not sure why it wouldn’t — and only then subscribe to the service. Even then, you are free to cancel your Hulu subscription at any time.
Costs
- Limited Commercials Plan for $7.99 per month
- No Commercials Plan for $11.99 a month
- Free 30-day trial option
Pros
- A ton of content – over 700 million hours of content to be more precise from all of the major stations. And if that’s not enough, new content is added on a daily basis.
- More affordable than cable – whereas a monthly cable bill could easily hit $100, you can use Hulu for just $8 and get access to all of the same content.
- Video On Demand – you can stream entire series on your own schedule.
- Mobile-enabled – feel free to take Hulu with you, no matter where you happen to go/be. There’s an app for your smartphone and tablet, as well as for a number of other devices to enjoy the content on a big(ger) screen.
Cons
- Not a live TV – Hulu doesn’t support live TV streaming. You’ll need some other service for that, like Sling TV. Hint: Getting both of those services is, in most cases, cheaper than cable TV.
- You still need internet access – but you need it for other things as well. The point is to dump your cable TV, not cable internet if that’s the faster connection you get.
Should You Sign-up for Hulu?
Absolutely YES. At the very least, you should sign-up for their free trial offer that will get you the whole month of free access to all of the content Hulu and its partners have to offer. After that, you will be paying either $8 ($7.99) or $12 ($11.99) per month, which is much cheaper than what any cable operator will ask for the comparable service. If that’s not enough for you, there’s the premium Showtime package that costs an extra $8.99 per month with even more content.
With Hulu, you will not only save — compared to the “standard” cable TV service — but also get an extra flexibility to enjoy the popular shows and series on your own schedule, and on a variety of devices. Love it! 😉
