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How to Watch Streaming Services

How to Watch Live TV on Hulu

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Hulu + Live TV replaces cable, and then some. It offers 85+ live channels, including both local networks like ABC and Fox along with popular pay channels like A&E, Discovery, HGTV, Syfy, and Nickelodeon.

It also includes unlimited cloud DVR, so you don’t have to miss a thing. Plus you get access to hundreds of amazing Hulu Originals plus new episodes of current shows.And if that isn’t enough, it comes with Disney+ as well as sports action on ESPN+.

If that all sounds great, then read on to find out how to get in on all this fantastic entertainment.

Hulu + Live TV Guide
Check out what’s on now and what’s coming up on the Live Guide.

Try Hulu + Live TV Today!

Before You Sign Up

Are you ready to get more content and better features with the freedom to change or cancel it altogether whenever you want? No installation appointment necessary!

Well, there are a few things you do need.

What You Need to Get Started

There are a couple of basic things you’ll need to get started watching Hulu + Live TV. 

  • First, obviously, you’ll need a screen to watch it on. This can be anything from your phone to your 70” personal Jumbotron.
  • Second, you’ll need a streaming device. In this high-tech world, many devices with screens (such as phones and smart TVs) are also streaming devices. If you have a Roku TV, for example, you won’t need a Roku (or Amazon Fire, or Apple TV, or Chromecast). For more info, check out our rundown on which devices work with Hulu + Live TV. (Spoiler alert: it’s almost all of them!).
  • Third, you’ll need an internet connection. You’re reading this post right now, so we’re going to assume you’ve got that one covered.
  • And last, you’ll need a Hulu + Live TV subscription. So let’s move on to package options.

Packages

To sign up for Hulu Live, you’ll need to first decide which plan you want to (initially) sign up for. Don’t worry if you change your mind, you can upgrade or downgrade your account any time. And you can do it online, so you won’t have to deal with a customer service rep trying to talk you out of it or upsell you.

Hulu + Live TV has only one base package, so that keeps things simple. However, you can get it with or without ads in your Hulu on-demand shows. Live channels will always have advertising (although you can fast-forward through them if you record first).

A quick rundown of Hulu’s main plans:

  • Hulu: The original on-demand service with ads — $6.99/mo. (Black Friday deal)
  • Hulu (No Ads): Same as Hulu, but removes ads from the vast majority of shows — $12.99/mo.
  • Hulu + Live TV: 85+ live channels, including local networks, with optional add-ons available. Also includes Hulu (on-demand), Disney+ (Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic), and ESPN+ (live sports and analysis) — $69.99/mo.
  • Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV: Same as Hulu + Live TV, but with Hulu (No Ads) instead of Hulu — $75.99.
ESPN+ on Hulu Live Guide
Live sports action on ESPN+

For a more thorough look at Hulu’s plans and a complete list of add-ons, you can visit our Hulu + Live TV packages page.

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Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

Signing Up: Step-by-Step

So you’ve got a supported device, a screen, an internet connection, and you know which plan you’re going for. What’s next?

Where to Sign Up

You can always sign up for Hulu + Live TV on Hulu’s website. You can also sign up through a third-party service like Apple, Amazon, or Roku. If you sign up through another service, you’ll be billed through that service, and have to use that service to manage your Hulu account.

We’re going to cover signing up directly through Hulu on a PC. Other devices’ (such as your phone or tablet) or services’ processes might vary from this a little.

  1. Follow this link and click the “Sign Up Now” button.
  2. Fill in the information and click “Continue.”
  3. Next fill in your billing information. You can choose to pay with a credit/debit card or PayPal. Note you will be charged immediately. Hulu + Live TV does not currently have a free trial. You will continue to be billed monthly until you cancel.

Downloading the Hulu App

Hulu Sign Up Flow on Mobile
Signing up is easy, even on your phone.

Many devices come with Hulu pre-installed. If not, you’ll need to visit the app store for your device and download it (free) from there. You can find detailed information for your particular device on Hulu’s website.

Once it’s downloaded and installed, just open the app and sign in with your email address and password.

You might also have the option to use an activation code on a TV, which means choosing the “Activate on a computer” option. The app will display a code on your TV screen, which you will have to enter on hulu.com/activate, either on your computer or your mobile device.

At this point, Hulu will run you through a quick introduction process where you can tell it your favorite genres, movies, and shows, so it knows what to recommend to you. You can skip it, but note that Hulu will still try to recommend content, it’s just less likely to be what you want to watch.

If You Need More Help

Hulu’s got you covered. It provides support via phone, live chat, Facebook, or Twitter. Plus, it features an automated bot on its site that can answer common questions.

Try Hulu + Live TV Today!

All images provided by Hulu.

Ditch “Big Cable” Now – 3 Simple Steps to Cut the Cord

  1. Pick the right streaming service
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  3. Supercharge your internet provider

That’s it — you’ll save money, take back control, and enjoy TV more!

Page Updates

  1. Updated one section. Added links. Image changes.

Alanna Baker

By Alanna Baker

Alanna Baker is Assistant Content Editor at HotDog, where she helps to keep our fingers on the pulse of the streaming world. She has written many articles on a plethora of streaming subjects, from sports to kids shows and how-tos to reviews. She also prepares the weekly entertainment newsletter with new releases, deals, and current events in the streaming world.

Her largest current contribution to the site is to the Sling TV section of the website, where she has created in-depth pages on how to watch anything from college golf to British soccer on the modular streaming service.

Alanna studied literature and education at the University of Utah, but she has spent most of her life working in media and law. An early adopter in both tech and entertainment from way back, she was using Netflix back when it was only mail-order, and was an early user of Redbox (when they were just red kiosks at McDonald's) as well. When Netflix and Hulu came along, she subscribed and never looked back.

Away from work, Alanna enjoys knitting, world travel, serial dramas (as of this writing, she’s on Season 4 of AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire), and rumors of her being a closet Pegasister can not, at this time, be confirmed. Her kids think DVDs are coasters and commercials are a novelty.

Alanna’s current subscriptions include:

AMC+
Disney+
Netflix
Hulu
Peacock
Max
Paramount+
NFL+ Premium
Apple TV+
Amazon Prime Video

She currently streams most often with her Amazon Fire Cube and Samsung smart TV.

Ask Alanna your streaming questions at [email protected] and your question may be featured in a future newsletter!

Alanna's Work on HotDog.com:

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