Short answer: Hulu + Live TV is a licensed IPTV service: about 95 live channels including your local networks, unlimited DVR, and Disney+ and ESPN Select bundled in, for $89.99 a month with ads. The cheap "IPTV subscriptions" it gets compared with are generally unlicensed, so the price gap reflects rights, not efficiency. The non-obvious point is that Hulu + Live TV's value depends on whether you would pay for Disney+ and ESPN anyway. If you would, its effective live-TV price drops to roughly $65.
At a glance
IPTV vs Hulu + Live TV
| Price | $89.99 with ads, $99.99 without |
| Channels | 95+ live, including local networks |
| Included | Disney+ (with ads) and ESPN Select |
| DVR | Unlimited, recordings kept nine months |
| Owner | Now run alongside Fubo, majority-owned by Disney |
| Cheap IPTV lists | Usually unlicensed, no guarantees |
What Hulu + Live TV is now
Hulu + Live TV is Disney's live-TV streaming service. In late 2025 it was combined with Fubo in a deal that left Disney as majority owner of the joint business, though the two services continue to be sold separately.
Disney is also folding the Hulu app into Disney+ during 2026. Your subscription, login and watch history carry over, but the place you open to watch may change.
In technical terms Hulu + Live TV is IPTV, because it delivers TV over the internet. What distinguishes it from the IPTV lists sold online is that it is licensed to carry every channel in its line-up.
Side by side
| Hulu + Live TV | Typical unlicensed IPTV list | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $89.99 (ads) / $99.99 | $10-20 |
| Channel rights | Licensed | None |
| Local networks | ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox in most markets | Feeds from arbitrary cities |
| On-demand library | Hulu, Disney+, ESPN Select | Pirated copies, if any |
| DVR | Unlimited, nine months | Rare |
| Streams | 2, or unlimited at home with add-on | Varies |
| Apps | In every major app store | Often sideloaded |
| Refunds and support | Standard consumer protection | Usually none |
The bundle maths
Hulu + Live TV's headline price includes services many households already pay for separately. That changes the comparison.
Disney+ with ads and ESPN Select together cost roughly $25 a month if bought alone, depending on current pricing. The Hulu on-demand library is included too.
If you would subscribe to those anyway, the effective cost of the live-TV part is around $65, similar to YouTube TV's Sports plan and well below its $82.99 Base plan.
If you would not, you are paying for streaming libraries you do not use, and a leaner service may suit you better.
A note on ESPN: the ESPN linear channels (ESPN, ESPN2 and so on) are part of the live line-up, so you can watch them live. What is bundled as a separate streaming subscription is ESPN Select, the former ESPN+ library. Check within the ESPN app how your access appears.
Channels and gaps
The live line-up includes the four major local networks in most markets, ESPN networks, Fox Sports, NFL Network, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Disney channels, FX, HGTV, Food Network, TNT and TBS, and many others. Channel availability varies by ZIP code.
Regional sports networks are limited. If your local NBA, NHL or MLB team airs on a regional network, check it is carried in your area; DirecTV Stream and, in some markets, Fubo have wider RSN coverage.
Premium add-ons such as Max, Paramount+ with Showtime and Starz are available at extra cost, along with an Unlimited Screens option.
Why a cheap IPTV list is not an equivalent
Lists offering thousands of channels for the price of a sandwich do so by not paying rights holders. The practical consequences are consistent:
They vanish. Rights holders and authorities regularly shut services down, and prepaid months disappear with them.
They get blocked. Amazon now blocks Fire TV apps identified with unlicensed content, and other platforms remove them from app stores.
They are a security risk. Payments often go through untraceable channels, and sideloaded apps from unknown sources can carry malware.
Our IPTV subscription guide lists the warning signs, and our IPTV vs YouTube TV comparison covers similar ground for Google's service.
Hulu + Live TV against licensed rivals
| Service | Monthly | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99 | Disney+ and ESPN Select included | Only 2 streams by default |
| YouTube TV Base | $82.99 | Best DVR and interface | No bundled on-demand library |
| YouTube TV Sports | $64.99 | Cheaper sports-focused tier | No news or entertainment channels |
| Fubo Pro | $79.99 | Sports and regional networks | No TNT or TBS |
| Sling Orange & Blue | $60.99 | Cheaper cable-channel mix | Few local networks |
Prices as of September 2026, before promotions.
Devices and practicalities
Hulu + Live TV runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV and Android TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs, games consoles, phones and browsers. Because it is distributed through official app stores, it is unaffected by the sideloading restrictions on Amazon's newer Vega OS sticks.
A home location is set on sign-up and checked periodically, which determines your local channels. Streaming away from home is allowed, within limits.
Two streams at a time is the default, which is tight for larger households; the Unlimited Screens add-on removes the limit at home.
Getting the best price
Pick the ad tier carefully. The $10 difference between the two tiers only removes ads from on-demand content. Live channels, including sport, still carry adverts either way, so the ad-free tier matters less for mostly-live viewers.
Look for promotions around big events. Disney has run discounted first months around the start of football season and major sporting events. They are not guaranteed, so check at sign-up.
Do not double-pay for Disney+ or ESPN. If you already subscribe to Disney+ or an ESPN plan separately, cancel it once Hulu + Live TV is active, otherwise you are paying twice for the same content.
Use the flexibility. There is no contract. Households that watch mainly during football season can subscribe for those months and switch to cheaper on-demand apps for the rest of the year.
Keep an antenna. It provides a free backup for local channels during internet outages and costs nothing monthly.
Who it suits
Good fit: households that want live TV and already use Disney+ or ESPN's streaming content, families with children, and viewers who value a big on-demand library alongside live channels.
Weaker fit: single-sport fans (direct apps or YouTube TV's Sports plan are cheaper), people who only need local channels (an antenna is free), and large households that need many simultaneous streams.
For a wider view of cheaper licensed routes, see our cord cutting guide.
Quick answers
How much is Hulu + Live TV in 2026? Hulu + Live TV costs $89.99 a month with ads or $99.99 without ads on on-demand content, as of September 2026.
Does Hulu + Live TV include Disney+ and ESPN? Yes. The plan includes Disney+ with ads and ESPN Select. The ESPN linear channels are part of the live line-up.
Is Hulu + Live TV an IPTV service? Yes, in the technical sense: it delivers live TV over the internet. Unlike cheap third-party IPTV lists, it holds licences for its channels.
Why are IPTV subscriptions so much cheaper than Hulu + Live TV? Most very cheap IPTV subscriptions do not pay for the channels they carry. Hulu + Live TV's price mainly reflects carriage fees paid to networks.
How many screens can watch Hulu + Live TV at once? Two by default. An Unlimited Screens add-on allows unlimited streams at home and more on mobile devices.
Is Hulu merging with Fubo? Disney and Fubo combined their live-TV businesses in 2025, with Disney as majority owner. Hulu + Live TV and Fubo are still sold as separate services.
Is Hulu + Live TV worth it over YouTube TV? It can be if you would pay for Disney+ and ESPN Select anyway, since they are included. If you would not, YouTube TV's Base or genre plans may offer better value.
Hulu + Live TV's prices, included services and app are changing as Disney integrates Hulu into Disney+ and combines its live-TV business with Fubo. Check Hulu's site for current details. Checked September 2026.