Hulu Officially Launches Live TV Streaming Service

Hulu has launched its new Live TV streaming subscription, and the service’s corresponding app has officially rolled out on the App Store.

The new subscription service bundles live and on-demand television content from more than 50 channels and outlets. That includes ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox ESPN, History Channel and TNT, as well as local news coverage and sports-related programming. The base subscription costs $39.99 a month, and includes Hulu’s standard on-demand streaming with limited commercials — itself normally available for $7.99. Subscribers can view the live content on iOS, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One and Android (with more devices coming soon). There are, however, some regional restrictions and content blackouts, which you can learn more about via Hulu Live’s website.

The standalone Hulu with Live TV app lets users stream live TV content on the go, and also features cloud-based DVR recording. Subscribers can add shows, movie, channels and networks to the My Stuff tab. The app also boasts a multitasking feature called “Fliptray,” which lets users watch a TV show while browsing other content. The app is currently available to download from the iOS and Apple TV App Stores.

In addition to the basic $40-a-month package, there are also a variety of upgrade options available to Hulu with Live TV users. Subscribers can add commercial-free viewing to the service for an additional $4 a month. There are also options for increased cloud DVR storage capacity available and unlimited simultaneous streaming for $14.99 each. Current Hulu users wanting to upgrade to the Live TV package can do so via their account section at Hulu.com.

Hulu’s new live TV subscription is only the latest addition to the online TV battlefield. Various companies and services have been attempting to court cord-cutters, including online video giant YouTube, who recently launched their own $35-a-month streaming service called YouTube TV. Apple has been trying to launch its own streaming service for years — but its effort has been snarled by failed negotiations with content providers.

Hulu with Live TV is now available to new subscribers via Hulu’s website, and the corresponding app can currently be downloaded from the App Store.