Hulu Live TV remains one of the most popular cable replacements in the U.S. thanks to its mix of 95+ live channels, the full Hulu on-demand library, and built-in Disney+/ESPN access on most plans. Below is your one-stop, current guide to plans and pricing, what channels you actually get, how the unlimited DVR works, which sports you can watch (and where regional sports still hit limits), and the add-ons that matter.
We’ll also show quick ways to trim your bill without sacrificing the essentials.
Plans & Today’s Pricing
- Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV + Disney+ (With Ads) + ESPN Select (With Ads): $82.99/month after a 3-day free trial. This is the default plan most subscribers choose.
- Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV + Disney+ (No Ads) + ESPN Select (With Ads): $95.99/month. Same live channels and DVR, but Hulu & Disney+ on-demand are largely ad-free.
- Live TV Only: $81.99/month if you want just the live channels (no Hulu on-demand library, no Disney+/ESPN Select access).
Promotions rotate, but the live plan typically includes Disney+ and ESPN Select access inside their own apps. “ESPN Select” is the rebranded ESPN+ tier; Hulu sometimes references limited access to ESPN Unlimited content inside the ESPN app, but that’s distinct from Hulu’s own Live TV service.
Channel Lineup (What You Actually Get)
Hulu Live TV offers 95+ channels in most markets, including the big four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), top sports/news (ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, TNT, TBS, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC), and a broad entertainment slate (FX, USA, Bravo, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, Nat Geo, etc.). Local station availability varies by ZIP code—input your location during signup to confirm locals and sub-channels in your area.
Regional Sports Networks (RSNs)
Hulu Live TV does carry some RSNs (notably NBC Sports regional networks), but popular RSNs such as YES Network and other team-owned channels may be missing. If you live for local MLB/NBA/NHL broadcasts, double-check the RSN for your team before switching.
Unlimited Cloud DVR (And How to Use It Well)
All Live TV plans include Unlimited DVR with up to nine months of storage. You can record games, news, and entire series and skip through recordings later (fast-forward works on DVR playback). Pro tips:
- Series passes: set “New Episodes Only” on sports talk shows to avoid filling the DVR with re-airs.
- Conflict proofing: unlimited DVR means you can stack multiple simultaneous recordings—great for overlapping primetime or Sunday sports.
- Travel days: schedule recordings before a road trip; blackout rules can block live viewing out of market, but DVR playback helps you catch up later.
Streams, 4K, and Devices
- Streams: standard Live TV accounts stream on two screens at once. The Unlimited Screens add-on ($9.99/month) lets your household stream on “any number” of supported devices at home, plus up to three mobile devices on the go.
- 4K & 60fps: Hulu supports 720p/1080p/4K (select titles) and 60fps on compatible devices. 4K availability is limited, most common for on-demand originals and select live events.
- Devices: iOS/Android phones and tablets, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast/Google TV, recent smart TVs, web browsers, and major game consoles. (Some older set-tops and cable-company boxes aren’t supported for Live TV.)
Sports on Hulu Live TV (What You’ll Find, What You Won’t)
For national games, Hulu Live TV covers a lot of ground via ABC/ESPN, FOX/FS1, CBS, NBC, TNT/TBS, and select RSNs. That means NFL regular season and playoffs on broadcast networks, college football across major conferences (via ABC/ESPN/FOX/CBS/NBC families), NBA on ABC/TNT, MLB on FOX/FS1, and NHL on ABC/ESPN/TNT. Where things get tricky is team-specific RSNs—if your local team’s games live on a channel Hulu doesn’t carry, you may need an RSN-specific service or over-the-top league package to fill the gap.
Sports Add-On
The Sports Add-on ($9.99/month) bolsters the base lineup with specialty sports networks (including NFL RedZone during the season) and niche channels. It’s worth it if your Sundays revolve around whip-around coverage or you chase motorsports, combat sports, or college overflow channels.
ESPN’s Standalone Streaming vs. Hulu Live TV (Know the Difference)
In 2025, ESPN launched a full standalone streaming tier, “ESPN Unlimited,” alongside the rebranded “ESPN Select” (the artist formerly known as ESPN+). Hulu Live TV includes access to ESPN Select and continues to deliver ESPN’s cable channels within the Live TV grid. If you want every linear ESPN network without a cable-style bundle, ESPN Unlimited is a separate subscription; some promotional bundles stack Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN Unlimited at a discount. For most households, Hulu Live TV’s built-in ESPN channels + ESPN Select access covers the day-to-day needs—Unlimited is for fans who want the full standalone ESPN app experience.
How Hulu Live TV Compares (2025 snapshot)
- Price: At $82.99 for the ad-supported version with Disney+ and ESPN Select included, Hulu Live TV sits slightly above some rivals’ base promos but remains competitive when you factor in the bundled on-demand libraries.
- Channels: Very broad national coverage, strong for generalists. RSN coverage is mixed; check your team’s network.
- DVR: True unlimited with 9-month retention is a real perk versus services that cap hours or charge more for skip-ads features.
- Apps & ease: One login covers live channels, Hulu Originals, Disney+ movies/series, and ESPN Select—in practice, you’ll hop among apps, but billing and access live under one umbrella.
Add-Ons You’ll Actually Use
- Unlimited Screens: $9.99/month; a must for crowded homes.
- Entertainment Add-On: $7.99/month; adds lifestyle/news/true-crime networks not in the base plan.
- Español Add-On: $4.99/month; Spanish-language networks.
- Premiums: Max, Starz, Paramount+ with Showtime billed through Hulu (pricing varies).
How to Save on Hulu Live TV in 2025
- Pick the right tier: If you mostly watch live sports/news and don’t need ad-free on-demand, the $82.99 plan is the sweet spot.
- Use seasonal stacking: Add Sports Add-on only during NFL/CFB months, pause it off-season.
- Bundle promos: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN deals rotate—if you’re not tied to Live TV year-round, a bundle with ESPN Unlimited could be cheaper during heavy sports months, then switch back.
- Trial timing: The Live TV trial is short (3 days). Start it on a Friday before a packed sports weekend to maximize value before your first charge hits.
Setup & FAQs
Is there a contract? No—month to month, cancel anytime. Regional blackouts and local-channel availability still apply to live sports.
Can I take it on vacation? Live channel availability follows your physical location for rights reasons. DVR playback helps if you’re traveling out of market.
Is everything in 4K? No—4K is limited to select titles and events. Most live channels stream in 720p/1080p, often at 60fps for sports.
Which devices work? Most modern streamers, smart TVs, phones, tablets, browsers, and game consoles. Some legacy cable boxes and older smart-TV models don’t support Live TV.
One Official Link to Bookmark
For the full, current plan details straight from the source, start here: Hulu + Live TV — official page.
