Hulu Raises Price on Live TV Package for Second Time This Year

For the second time this year, Hulu is increasing the monthly fee for its live TV streaming package, the company announced on Friday. Starting Dec. 18, the standard Hulu + Live TV package will cost $54.99 per month — a 22% increase from its current $44.99 per month fee. “The new price better reflects the substantial value of Hulu + Live TV and allows us to continue offering all of the popular live news, sports and entertainment programming included in the plan,” Hulu said in a blog post announcing its decision. Price increases are “never easy to stomach,” the streamer conceded, before adding it would look to make it easier for viewers to jump back and forth between its live TV plan and its cheaper streaming packages. The price hike comes after Hulu increased the price of its live-streaming package from $39.99 to $44.99 per month in January. Hulu + Live TV’s standard package offers more than 60 channels, including ESPN, CNN, FX and all the major broadcast networks, along with access to Hulu original series like “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Hulu’s price bump now makes its live TV service $5 more per month than the cost of YouTube TV, which runs $50 per month. YouTube TV increased its fees in April. Disney, the majority owner of Hulu, released its much anticipated Disney+ streaming service earlier this week. Hulu is expected to be the home for more adult-oriented content that otherwise wouldn’t hit Disney+, with Disney offering a $12.99 bundle package that gives viewers access to its new service, ESPN+, and Hulu’s basic plan.