'Hulu With Live TV' Appears on App Store, Includes FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, and More [Update: $39.99+]

[Rigby]

Who is Cable over IP for? It looks to be no cheaper than traditional cable, but certainly buggier and more complex. It's still chock full of ads. And it has none of the benefits of on-demand streaming. I cannot think of a single reason to buy into this entire category.

For one, you don't need Comcast's crappy set-top boxes and their rental fees. Just use your Apple TV, Roku etc. (and soon it'll probably work on smart TVs as well). You can also take it with you and watch on iPhones, iPads etc.

The bigger picture is that this does away with the cable companies' monopoly and creates competition for distribution of live TV content. Hopefully it'll eventually result in lower prices and better features.

I'll stick with my Netflix, Hulu Commercial Free, HBOGo mix of products.

Same here. I really don't see a reason to watch live TV with its stupid commercials anymore. But for those who do, the more options the better. And everything that lights a fire under Comcast's big monopolistic butt can only be good.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Never been a fan of Hulu because they charge you and offer commercials in their basic streaming packages. Hopefully more competition means cheaper pricing because Sling might have more value.

Huh?

$5.99 = commercials
$11.99 = No commercials (except for like 4 shows with a forced 30 second one before the show airs)

 

[2010mini]

I don't agree with them charging more for "extra space" of Cloud DVR. It doesn't cost them anything to provide. It's not like they are duplicating the source for every person that "records" it!

People are so dumb. And gullible.

You think the content owners aren't charging Hulu for offering what is essentially a retransmission?

 

[dannyyankou]

Youtube TV seems like a better deal

Oh, but Hulu let's you watch shows on demand. Youtube doesn't have that.

 

[iSRS]

Interesting. Trying a CBS show.... Last week's Survivor... I have the no commercial option...

But a plus? In the Episode list for tonight's, it says it is available at 9PM, so right after it airs. Wonder if I can start is live since it "should" be in my "DVR" - That is the question. May have to try and "record" Price is Right at 11 today to test that out

 

[GizmoDVD]

Comparisons to home DVR equipment is laughable.

You get locked in for a price for x amount of time (6 months, 1 year etc.)

You say you pay $89.99 but that doesn't include DVR rental fees, taxes, "HD Channel fee" etc. That $89.99 quickly becomes over $100.

I dropped Dish and later U-Verse and just went simple. $39.99 unlimited internet from Spectrum and $35 from DTVNow. Down from my $89.99 stupid bundle (which included a home phone - who the hell wants that?) which was normally $102/103 with taxes.

I get much better streaming options for DTVnow (home, work, iPhone etc).

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I understand this is cord cutters, etc...but the price doesn't make a sense in my case - I have Verizon FIOS and I am paying $ 89+tax for Internet 100/100 /phone/ TV (no HBO, etc)

That's a great deal.

 

[cardfan]

Looks like the big 4 networks aren't really live besides a few cities. Can't see the point then.. It would only be on demand for most people.

 

[akuma13]

$14.99 for the 200hr DVR is a complete rip off. When you want to watch a recorded show it will favor the recorded live tv show program with commercials instead of a commercial free on demand version (if you have the add free package) WTF? The 43.99 (ad-free on demand) package with the 50hr DVR should be more than enough for most people.

 

[rhsant]

Doesn't look like the Hulu offering will move me from Playstation Vue in the Boston area. PS vue is less expensive (I'm paying $34.99 for core slim), getting more channels (local CBS, NBC, NECN, CSN and, most importantly, NESN for Red Sox) and includes DVR.

 

[avanpelt]

Who is Cable over IP for? It looks to be no cheaper than traditional cable, but certainly buggier and more complex.

DIRECTV Now is certainly cheaper than traditional DIRECTV. In my case, we were paying $115/month for traditional DIRECTV on two HD TVs with DVRs. We did not have any premium movie channels.

With DIRECTV Now, we're paying $35/month for 100+ live channels including HBO. Yes, we got the introductory pricing; but even without the introductory pricing, the cost is $65/month and you can watch on up to two devices simultaneously -- which is still far cheaper than the $115/month we were paying.

Is it buggier? Yes, but that's simply growing pains from a new service. The reliability has gone way up over the past few months. It was hell for the first month or two after DIRECTV Now launched.

Is it more complex? Hardly. I would argue that it's easier -- particularly when you move. When my family moves in a few months, all we have to do is take the TVs and Apple TVs with us and plug them in at the new house to watch live TV. All you need is an internet connection. There's no more need to make an installation appointment just for TV service. That's a big plus of "CoIP", as you call it.

 

[FrenchRoasted]

If I pay any money to watch TV, I expect to not see any commercials. We're going to have to wait until these fossilized broadcast executives die off before the market comes to terms with modern reality of the internet.

 

[ghostface147]

Needs about 15 or so channels that I watch to get my money, plus NFL Network and Root Sports.

 

[avanpelt]

If I pay any money to watch TV, I expect to not see any commercials.

Everyone who pays for TV service is still shown commercials when they are watching live TV.

 

[GizmoDVD]

$14.99 for the 200hr DVR is a complete rip off. When you want to watch a recorded show it will favor the recorded live tv show program with commercials instead of a commercial free on demand version (if you have the add free package) WTF? The 43.99 (ad-free on demand) package with the 50hr DVR should be more than enough for most people.

It does? Have you tested that? It just launched 10 minutes ago so what live show are you trying to watch that you recorded?

I understand they had a beta (I was apart of it, not the live part though)

 

[Steve.P.JobsFan]

Is there a good term for these types of services yet (Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue)? They're not quite on-demand streaming (Netflix, Hulu, HBOGo) but they're not quite traditional cable either (Comcast, Verizon, etc.) I like calling them Cable over IP, or CoIP for short.

Who is Cable over IP for? It looks to be no cheaper than traditional cable, but certainly buggier and more complex. It's still chock full of ads. And it has none of the benefits of on-demand streaming. I cannot think of a single reason to buy into this entire category.

I'll stick with my Netflix, Hulu Commercial Free, HBOGo mix of products.

I certainly can think of reasons. We jumped from DIRECTV to PlayStation Vue (combined with HBO NOW, Hulu Ad-Free, Netflix) and are saving a hell of a lot of money.

DIRECTV was nearly $130 a month, and that was *after* haggling with retentions to bottom-dollar pricing.

Now we're spending about $60 per month total.

PS Vue is smooth as butter and dead-simple to use on both FireTV and AppleTV. It has the same benefits of on-demand streaming, because there is a huge VOD catalog. There are still ads for live TV, yes, but you're never going to be able to get around that, because the channel is the party airing ads, not the provider.

 

[GizmoDVD]

If I pay any money to watch TV, I expect to not see any commercials. We're going to have to wait until these fossilized broadcast executives die off before the market comes to terms with modern reality of the internet.

Not going to happen. There will always be commercials or produce placement.

 

[dominiongamma]

Everyone who pays for TV service is still shown commercials when they are watching live TV.

It's entilited people who think they should get everything for free.

 

[ACG12]

I'll stick my $35/month DirecTV Now Go Big Package with free HBO.

 

[Cheriegate]

Hopefully they have a surprise in store for pricing...$60 for what Youtube TV is offering for $35 doesn't seem like a very competitive offering.

WHY doesn't anyone talk about the monthly INTERNET charges? Add that $$ to $35+ YouTube TV (which works beautifully) and you're nearing $80-$90. I'm paying $100 for Cable, can't beat that.

 

[blackcrayon]

Pretty ironic, considering a few years ago it seemed it would be Apple that was destined to have a TV service like this first. Everyone else is doing it, and Apple's TV service is hardly rumored about anymore.

Further irony, Apple seems like they'd be in a great position to have a really low price, they could break even on it and use the attractive low fee to sell Apple TVs.
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I'll stick my $35/month DirecTV Now Go Big Package with free HBO.

I wonder if mine will still be $10 this month (have the ATT Unlimited Plus plan, which in the original fine print said $35 Go Big folks weren't eligible for the $25 discount. But last month it seems we got it anyway).

 

[milo]

Ironic that Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is used in the promo pic as it's about to be canceled.

That's not what's being predicted. We'll see, but that seems unlikely considering the rest of ABC's lineup. Probably one more short final season.

 

[cesko]

I wish I was sadder about that, but this season has been super uninteresting to me

Ditto, am still 6 episodes back (7 now with last night's) and having a tough time sitting through them.

As for the service, something tells me that "nickel and diming" customers for every little option will quickly bring the price on par with what cable companies offer.

 

[GIZBUG]

For that price, no thanks

 

[lunarworks]

Further irony, Apple seems like they'd be in a great position to have a really low price, they could break even on it and use the attractive low fee to sell Apple TVs.

It's not that Apple hasn't been trying. The TV executives saw what iTunes did to the music industry, so they're playing much harder to get than music executives were.