Hulu with Live TV is giving its users unlimited DVR starting next month at no additional cost, a feature that will allow it to more directly compete with its cord-cutting rival YouTube TV.
The feature will apply to all Hulu subscriptions with Live TV starting April 13 and will support playback and fast-forwarding of recordings for up to nine months (same storage period supported by YouTube TV). Previously, Hulu with Live TV supported up to 50 hours of DVR storage, but could be upgraded to 200 hours of storage through add-ons that ranged in price from $10 to $15 per month.
Those customers who opted for add-on packages that supported additional DVR space will no longer be charged for the additional storage starting April 13.
Unlimited DVR space has long been one of YouTube TV’s most compelling features, and its addition to Hulu with Live TV is one of the few recent changes to the service that help Hulu with Live TV stay competitive in the market. pay television space. In December of last year, Hulu with Live TV raised its base level to $70 per month from $65 per month, the price of YouTube TV, but included in Disney Plus and ESPN Plus at no additional cost.
Hulu with Live TV features over 80 channels, while YouTube TV features over 100 on its base plan. While Hulu with Live TV is a bit more expensive, destroying your paid DVR plans and adding two separate services that cost $15 between the two adds a lot of value for households, particularly families.
“Through a single subscription, users get access to more than 80 live channels, including all major streaming networks, as well as Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ and soon unlimited DVR,” said Joe Earley, president of Hulu, in a statement. “Guided by our relentless focus on providing the consumer with a high-quality user experience, we will be one of the only pay TV providers, traditional or streaming, to offer this feature as part of the base plan at no additional cost.”