Hulu on Wednesday quietly launched its Internet-based live television service. Hulu with Live TV, available for download from a variety of app stores across multiple platforms, will set you back $39.95 per month.
The beta-for-now service includes access to more than 50 top channels spanning several genres including A&E, History, HGTV, Syfy, TBS, truTV and USA. Sports fans will appreciate the ESPN and Fox Sports family of networks while channels like Disney, Disney Junior, Disney XD and the Cartoon Network will certainly appeal to the kiddos.
Hulu's offering also dishes up local staples like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox although availability is region-specific so you'll need to check your ZIP code to see exactly what is offered in your area.
The traditional Hulu video subscription service is also bundled in as part of the new package.
Hulu additionally offers an optional cloud DVR service that can be purchased monthly as a $15 add-on. For the extra dough, you get 200 hours of storage with no limits on the number of shows you can record simultaneously and the ability to fast-forward through commercials.
As is sometimes the case with streaming TV services like this (and there are plenty available these days), there are some significant gaps in content. Without licensing deals from AMC, Discovery and Viacom, for example, you won't be able to watch some current hit shows like The Walking Dead or Better Call Saul and will miss out on networks like Spike, Comedy Central, MTV and VH1.