Even though streaming platforms were initially viewed to be the godsend option for cord-cutters who were sick of their cable and satellite plans, those views are definitely changing as years go by and streaming prices go up. Netflix subscribers recently felt the pinch from entertainment giant's upped charges, and now it's Hulu customers' wallets that are being squeezed. The latter confirmed this week that the monthly charges for its Hulu + Live options will each be going up by a whopping $10, and that the change will go into effect before Christmas.
Customers who rely on Hulu for their live TV viewing should now get ready to pay an extra $120 a year for the same services. Those who use the more basic Hulu + Live package will see their fees going from $54.99 to $64.99 on December 18. Meanwhile, the "No Ads" version of that package will go from $60.99 a month to $70.99 per month. (No price changes have been announced for solely the on-demand packages, according to TechCrunch.) To be expected, streaming customers were far from pleased to hear about Hulu's plans.
For instance, here's a reaction comment from one of TechCrunch's own readers.
Longtime Hulu Live subscriber right here. Canceled my sub immediately upon hearing the news as I have no interest supporting their unethical, greedy behavior going forward. Hulu should be charged with predatory pricing.
Considering there are still a bazillion ways to watch both streaming and live TV that have nothing to do with Hulu's plans, I don't know how well that whole "predatory pricing" idea would go over. But the point is understood, that Hulu should be punished in some way for continuing to raise its prices without necessarily providing updates on the services that customers are utilizing. That sentiment was echoed throughout social media, such as this Twitterer.
Goodbye @hulu. It was fun while it lasted. 44% increase to membership price in a year...
While not outright attacking Hulu, Canadian writer Kelly Oxford expressed the kinds of thoughts that many people have shared a lot in 2020.
That post referenced the fact that Hulu sent emails out to its customer base as a way of sharing with everyone that the price increases are imminent. Even though finding out that way is technically better than hearing it from total strangers, it was still gobsmacking for those who received it, such as the user below, who posted a screenshot of their message.
The overall idea is that Hulu's live TV option has ultimately become the thing that people were trying to avoid in the first place by signing up.
Remember when #Hulu was the anti-cable competitor? Now they’re just fucking cable. Fuck this noise.
Hulu plans on raising those prices on December 18, so subscribers still have a little time to figure out if they want to opt out for the future or if they want to keep the subscriptions going. The recently released miniseries A Teacher, starring Kate Mara and Nick Robinson, is causing quite a few conversations that could help keep viewers around, and the upcoming Animaniacs reboot might do the same. Not to mention Seth MacFarlane's The Orville, though it'll probably be a while before it's back in front of streamers' eyeballs.
While waiting to see what happens next, head to our Fall TV 2020 premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 rundown to see what new and returning shows are coming soon.
