One of the most common complaints we hear about streaming these days is that when people cut the cord, they have to also significantly cut back on the entertainment that they have come to love and rely on. However, if you are looking to get rid of your old cable bundle and shopping for a live TV streaming service, but don’t want to sacrifice the shows and movies that make up the bulk of your TV watching schedule, then Hulu + Live TV is our recommendation. The Disney-owned streamer almost certainly delivers all of your favorite channels while throwing in expansive on-demand access, tons of cool features, and more to make it a fantastic replacement for the cable bundle of old.

How does Hulu + Live TV replicate the cable bundle?

Channels galore

Let’s start with the most obvious way that Hulu + Live TV replicates the cable bundle: linear channels. Hulu + Live TV comes with a base package of more than 90 channels, including local broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, and The CW in nearly every market across the country.

Hulu + Live TV also provides access to an excellent selection of cable news, sports, and entertainment channels. That’s the true strength of Hulu + Live TV’s channel package: choice. You can watch a huge array of different types of content on the service instead of just one type. Click here to find out more about the specific channels you can watch on Hulu + Live TV.

The one major area where Hulu is likely more lacking than its cable competitor is in regional sports networks (RSNs). Fortunately, if being able to watch all of the games from your favorite local team is important for you as you exit a traditional TV subscription, in most cases, you can stack a standalone in-market streaming service alongside Hulu + Live TV. And if not, there are other live streamers that carry many RSNs.

Add more channels

One of the top features of cable is that viewers can add more channels based on a specific theme via bonus packages. These packs of extras generally cost between $5 and $20 per month on top of a base plan, and allow a customer to pack even more content into their plan.

Hulu + Live TV also comes with three distinct add-on packages: Sports ($10 per month), Entertainment ($8), and Español ($5) packs. Each of these add-ons brings something unique to the table, and you can use them to supplement the already-formidable selection of networks found on Hulu + Live TV.

Channels in Hulu + Live TV’s Entertainment add-on

Get even more with Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu

While Hulu + Live TV certainly mimics many of the features of the cable bundle, there is one way in which it leaves its older competitors in the dust. In addition to all of the broadcast and cable channels found on the service, Hulu + Live TV also offers some of the most popular on-demand streaming services at no extra cost.

Viewers who sign up at a price of $83 per month or more get the entire Disney Bundle included. That means that in addition to the live TV aspects of the subscription, they also get access to Hulu’s entire on-demand library of original series and films, next-day episodes of shows from across Disney and Fox-owned channels, and a deep library of licensed favorites. But that’s not all!

In addition, Hulu + Live TV subscribers also get complete access to all of the family and genre programming found on Disney+ and the added sports coverage on ESPN+. This unique combination unlocks on-demand entertainment of all genres, as well as the 30,000+ sporting events every year. By itself, this version of the Disney Bundle will cost $17 per month, so you’re getting great added value with a Hulu + Live TV subscription.

What other features come with a Hulu + Live TV subscription?

There are other ways that Hulu + Live TV improves on the cable experience. For one thing, Hulu + Live TV comes with a three-day free trial for new customers. That means you’ll be able to give it a thorough test before deciding whether or not you’re going to pay for the service.

Another way Hulu + Live TV improves on cable is the lack of long-term contracts. Your Hulu + Live TV subscription is on a month-to-month basis, which means you’re not locked into paying for it for any longer than you want. Most cable plans used to come with contracts that lasted a year, or even longer.

Like most cable subscriptions these days, Hulu + Live TV offers an unlimited cloud DVR so that you can record all of your favorite shows, events, and sporting events to be able to watch whenever you want. The one caveat is that recordings are only available for nine months, but after that long, if you haven’t watched by then, chances are likely slim that you ever will.

Finally, Hulu + Live TV doesn’t require any extra equipment to start streaming. No set-top cable box, nothing to connect; just download the Hulu app on your smart TV or streaming device, log in, and start watching everything that comes with your Hulu + Live TV subscription.

The bottom line

Hulu + Live TV comes with an excellent selection of cable channels, including local broadcast networks. It also offers add-on channel packs and free on-demand streaming services with a subscription, and comes with features that improve on the cable experience.

At a price of $83 per month, Hulu + Live TV is even cheaper than many of the cable packages you can still choose. It’s one of our favorite live TV streamers overall, and it probably comes as close to replicating the cable bundle as you can get.

Free 3-Day Trial

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Hulu Live TV

Hulu Live TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 70 channels for $89.99 per month. Hulu + Live TV base plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs). Subscribers get free access to Disney+ and ESPN Select at no extra charge.

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Where it really separates itself is value. Your subscription doesn’t just cover live TV — it also includes full access to Hulu’s on-demand library, plus bundled subscriptions to Disney+ and ESPN Select content at no extra cost. That means you’re getting everything from next-day network TV episodes and Hulu Originals, to Marvel, Star Wars, and live sports content all in one place without juggling multiple bills.

For sports fans, Hulu + Live TV also includes regional sports networks (RSNs) in select areas, a feature many competing services have dropped. That can be a big deal if you’re trying to follow local MLB, NBA, or NHL teams.

The DVR experience is another strong point. Subscribers get unlimited cloud DVR storage and the ability to fast-forward through commercials on recorded content — a feature that used to cost extra but is now standard. It’s designed to feel closer to a traditional cable DVR, just without the box.

If you want to customize further, several add-ons are available. You can upgrade to premium channels like HBO, Showtime, or Starz, add an unlimited streams option for households with lots of viewers, or go ad-free on Hulu’s on-demand content (live TV will still include ads).

Overall, Hulu + Live TV is less about being the cheapest option and more about being the most comprehensive. It’s built for people who want live TV, on-demand shows, and bundled streaming services all under one roof — without having to piece everything together themselves.

Free 3-Day Trial

$89.99+ / month

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