The video streaming landscape grows more crowded by the year. Seemingly every media company now fields their own standalone subscription service. But arguably no streaming sub-sector has seen more rapid growth than live TV replacements for traditional cable/satellite packages.
Helping accelerate this cord-cutting revolution are relative newcomers FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV. Since launching in 2015 and 2017 respectively, these platforms now boast over 5 million subscribers combined. Clearly they‘re doing something right.
But between FuboTV and Hulu Live TV‘s different channel bundles, pricing tiers, features and user experiences, choosing the right service for your household can get confusing. Don‘t decide before considering all the factors explored in this comprehensive comparison guide.
FuboTV and Hulu Live TV – A Brief Background
Before analyzing Fubo vs Hulu‘s comparative strengths and weaknesses, let‘s review some key background on each service.
FuboTV
FuboTV commenced operations in January 2015 as a sports-focused streaming package carrying international soccer games and other sporting events. After adding more sports and entertainment fare, Fubo would expand into a broader cable TV replacement product marketed to US cord cutters.
Some notable milestones:
- Q1 2018 – 250,000 paying subscribers
- Q4 2019 – 500,000 subscribers
- Q4 2020 – 548,000 subscribers
- Q2 2022 – 1.23 million subscribers
Fubo has raised $1 billion in funding over 10 rounds from major VCs like 21st Century Fox, AMC Networks and Discovery Inc.
Hulu + Live TV
Debuting in May 2017, Hulu + Live TV represented the natural evolution of Hulu‘s pioneering subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service launched a decade prior. Live news and sports were mashed up with Hulu‘s existing library of TV shows and movies.
In 2021, Disney reported upwards of 4 million Hulu Live TV customers. For context, chief rival YouTube TV claims around 5 million customers presently.
Side-by-Side Snapshot
| FuboTV | Hulu Live TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Sports-centric bundle | Extension of Hulu‘s on-demand catalog |
| Launch Date | January 2015 | May 2017 |
| Pricing (Starting) | $74.99/month | $69.99/month |
| 2022 Subscribers | 1.25 million | 4+ million |
| Ownership | Publicly-traded | Disney subsidiary |
Now let‘s analyze across five major comparison areas how precisely Fubo and Hulu Live TV stack up.
Channel Lineups and Programming
The breadth of entertainment and news programming available is arguably the top consideration for any cable TV replacement. Beyond cost, you want assurance your favorite channels will be included.
Both services offer solid starter channel bundles, but with different focuses.
FuboTV Tiers
- Pro (~140 channels) – $74.99/month. Targeted at sports fans with NFL Network, MLB Network, international soccer and more.
- Elite (205+ channels) – $84.99/month. Steps up with regional sports networks, entertainment add-ons.
- Ultimate (215+ channels) – $94.99/month. Adds specialty sports networks plus Showtime and Starz.
Add-on packages for premium networks, specialty bundles and upgraded Cloud DVR add more.
Hulu + Live TV
One flat package for $69.99 monthly comprising over 75+ live channels – sports, news and entertainment. Cloud DVR and Unlimited Screens can be added on starting at $9.99 monthly.
Sports Networks
Both carry ESPN, TNT plus assorted regional sports networks. FuboTV holds the edge for fanatics with NFL Network/RedZone, MLB Network, NBA TV, Tennis Channel and more niche offerings. Soccer heads will also appreciate Fubo‘s international league passes.
Entertainment
Hulu Live TV incorporates the service‘s full on-demand catalog. This provides tens of thousands additional show and movie options lacking on FuboTV. Hulu Originals like award winner The Handmaid‘s Tale are also exclusive draws.
Locals and Regional Networks
Thanks to parent company Disney‘s reach, Hulu Live TV generally offers more local ABC/CBS/Fox affiliates and regional sports networks than Fubo manages. Necessary for some subscribers but availability varies by location.
News
The major cable news players – CNN, Fox News, MSNBC – are covered on both services. Fubo carries live streaming news outlet Cheddar while Hulu has the CBS News suite. Toss up depending on personal outlet needs.
Overall FuboTV touts more total channels in its upper bundles. But Hulu counters with arguably more mainstream entertainment alongside prestigious original programming. Choose based on your household‘s specific programming priorities.
For large households requiring multiple simultaneous streams, FuboTV allows sharing the Standard plan across five user Profiles for no added charge. Each Profile gets personalized recommendations and recording storage. Hulu caps Live TV to two streams requiring an add-on for unlimited devices.
Streaming Quality and Performance
A streaming service boasting the hottest programming matters little if you can‘t actually watch shows reliably without constant buffering and error messages.
Let‘s examine how FuboTV and Hulu Live TV‘s streaming quality, video resolution and platform stability compare.
Video Quality
In 2022 network monitoring firm HighSpeedInternet tested leading live TV services by streaming the NBA Finals across multiple sessions on different devices.
FuboTV managed steady throughput around 3.8 Mbps, peaking higher at times. This enabled 720p and 1080p resolution.
Hulu Live TV showed better consistency churning out 1080p video at 6 Mbps during testing windows.
Clearly both services can adequately support HD streaming. But Hulu‘s higher bitrates result in crisper, sharper picture quality.
Reliability and Uptime
Subscribers want reassurance their platform works not only during low-traffic evenings but also whenever that crucial game airs driving record demand.
FuboTV reviews frequently cite struggles with recorded content not loading, sign-in issues and video dropping out completely during peak events like NFL Sundays leading to mass frustration.
Hulu + Live TV earns decidedly more favorable appraisals for stability even as streaming loads spike. Disney‘s engineering resources and CDN scale better absorb demand surges leading to fewer meltdowns.
Stability drives retention. One 2022 survey showed 15% of Fubo subscribers dropped the service because of repeated technical headaches. Just 9% of Hulu users claimed similar reliability factors for cancelling.
In an era when fans have countless alternative means to access entertainment media, reliability undoubtedly matters.
Special Features and User Experience
Delving deeper, streaming services aim to differentiate through tailored special features elevating the viewing experience. Let‘s see how FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV compare here.
| FuboTV | Hulu Live TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous Streams | 10 | 2 (
Unlimited addon $9.99/month
) |
| Cloud DVR Storage | 250 hours | 50 hours (
200 hrs addon $9.99
) |
| User Profiles | 5 | 6 |
| Offline Viewing | No | Yes (select shows) |
| 4K Streaming | Some live sports | Hulu Originals, films |
| Devices Supported | Roku, Fire TV, iOS/Android, Smart TVs | Roku, Fire TV, iOS/Android, Chromecast, Smart TVs |
| Free Trial Length | 7 days | 7 days |
Reviewing hybrid web/mobile access, both platforms hit app stores plus all major streaming boxes – Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Smart TVs.
But Hulu‘s Android/iOS apps earn higher marks for smoother navigation and organizing recordings. Fubo‘s channel guide and menu interactions feel just a half-step behind.
Hulu also offers handy offline viewing for its deep mobile catalog – ideal for travel. Fubo subscribers must remain perpetually connected.
Lastly Hulu provides admissible stability via the Disney/ESPN infrastructure, evidenced by far fewer large-scale outages. Reliability counts when your favorite team is racing towards a championship.
Costs and Bill Impacts
With such robust features, how much extra will these services set back your household budget?
Evaluating base subscription rates, Hulu Live TV undercuts FuboTV $69.99 to $74.99 monthly. But Hulu requires spending another $10-15 monthly to remove ads and upgrade DVR limits. That effective price difference narrows.
More critically, assess expected add-ons. The averages Hulu user piles on $22/month more extras; Fubo subscribers stack $18 in supplements. Suddenly your bill balloons 50-75% over base rates:
Average Streaming TV Bill Impacts
Data via Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, 2023
Map anticipated add-on needs – DVR storage, enhanced sports, premium channels – against these projected outlays. Don‘t get blinded by low intro offers. Additional fees compound rapidly.
Auditing effective annual expenses also proves instructive:
| Configuration | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Fubo Pro + Sports Plus | $84.99 | $1,019 |
| Hulu Live TV Bundle + 200 Cloud DVR | $104.96 | $1,259 |
Determine your personal household budget then scrutinize streaming packages accordingly.
Which Service Should You Choose?
We‘ve covered a ton of ground detailing FuboTV and Hulu‘s live streaming TV offerings and differences. Let‘s distill down the key decision factors:
Choose FuboTV If…
- You absolutely need niche sports networks – NFL RedZone, MLB Network, regional Bally Sports channels
- Desiring bundled premium networks like Showtime or Starz
- Seeking dedicated live news options beyond CNN/MSNBC
- Appreciate multi-month discounts over short-term Hulu promotions
Choose Hulu + Live TV If…
- Already subscribe to Hulu and want tight integration
- Prioritize reliability and performance during peak viewing
- Considering add-ons like Disney+ or ESPN+
- Like offline viewing support for mobile
- Looking for free trials to compare services directly
Both platforms offer free week-long trials – take full advantage. Sign up to experience channel listings, streaming quality and features first-hand within your home.
I hope mapping costs, sports and entertainment programming differences aids discovery of your best live TV streaming fit. The great cable TV replacement shift shall carry on!
