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hulu.com
Hulu has been quickly climbing up the ranks of premium streaming services. They started out as one of the first to compete with Netflix, but had a hard time differentiating themselves. Hulu needed to land more syndicated material, especially since Netflix already had contracts with so many networks and studios. What could they offer that would be good enough to make people switch from Netflix (or at least convince them they needed a second monthly streaming service bill)?
According to many industry experts, Hulu answered many of the concerns that investors had about its future when it first hit the market by making some smart moves. For example, they are now the second most popular and widely used streaming service of all time. So, what exactly did they do to address all of these concerns?
Whereas Hulu seemed to prize quality over quantity by releasing entire seasons of shows at once, a la cable.
First of all, Hulu differentiated their service from Netflix by offering a different streaming model. They released full seasons of TV series instead of just episodes like Netflix does. This way, they mirror the platform more closely to that of traditional cable. Netflix is known for having binge-worthy content. Whereas Hulu seemed to prize quality over quantity by releasing entire seasons of shows at once, like cable does.
Many people swear by Hulu because they believe that the site offers value to viewers by allowing them to watch new episodes of their favorite shows 24 hours after they air on cable TV.
With this model, Hulu was able to find syndications that Netflix had either overlooked or did not have the platform to properly cater to. As soon as Netflix began pivoting to focusing on producing more original content, Hulu scooped up a ton of network cable syndications - these networks favoring this week-by-week release model for currently airing programs.
This allowed Hulu to secure very exclusive contracts with the likes of NBC, ABC, and Fox. However, Hulu also began producing their own original content immediately upon launch, accurately predicting that this would be the big push in the coming years of streaming. As a result, Hulu has produced plenty of critically acclaimed and award-winning original movies and TV shows.
Hulu eventually started offering a live cable TV streaming service in addition to its basic streaming capabilities.
This was, in my opinion, the final large-scale move by Hulu that would forever differentiate them from Netflix. For around $50 a month, users could now stream live TV from hundreds of networks, as well as stream their favorite Hulu content on-demand. No other premium streaming service offered anything of the sort at the time. And I know, personally, plenty of people who jumped on the Hulu bandwagon almost immediately once they began offering this service.
While the app version of Hulu is not always the most popular option among premium streaming services, it seems to hold a special place in the hearts of many users. With an average user rating of 4.7 stars (out of 5) from over 1.2 million individual user reviews, there is no doubt that Hulu has a large and devoted following.
Let's dive in, shall we? And see just what it is about the Hulu app that makes it so great.
Design
I do not think that it is very common for a premium streaming app to be designed in a way that truly makes sense for a premium streaming app. Take the Netflix app, for example, it is very cluttered, and it seems to be built in a layout that would make more sense for a social network than it would for a streaming service. Hulu, on the other hand, knows exactly what it is - a premium streaming service that needs to make a convenient smartphone application of its platform - and it knows exactly how to best highlight its features in a way that makes the most sense for a mobile application. In fact, I might go as far as to say that the Hulu app is far better than the Hulu web browser site.
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The app has conveniently separated the home page into sections that are clickable. Just select what you are looking for and watch the whole page immediately transform. Scroll through a slender menu at the top of the app, choosing either Popular, Drama, Comedy, Documentaries, etc. and simply browse by genre or popularity. From there, it is just a matter of scrolling down until you find the title you are looking for.
The My Stuff section of the app makes for a completely streamlined experience. Whether you are watching on your computer, your tablet, or your smartphone, picking right up where you left off is easy by being able to access a cross-platform folder of your favorite shows, movies, or TV networks. Add a show to your My Stuff list on the computer, and then access it immediately on your phone via the app. It's streaming simplified.
Content
Every movie and show that Hulu has to offer on its website and Smart TV app is also available on the mobile app. In addition, the experience is tailored to your interests with personalized recommendations.
With the options available, there is a perfect solution for any viewer. You can add networks such as Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, and STARS to your cable package, or you can subscribe to Hulu TV which turns your smartphone into television.
Pricing and Plans
Hulu is a streaming service that likely has more pricing tiers than any other premium streaming service. What you pay for determines what you get. There is the Hulu basic streaming option, which is $9.99 a month and includes ads. Or, for only 2 more dollars a month, you can get Hulu Premium, which is ad-free. If you want access to live TV, however, you'll have to be willing to drop around $40 a month (which also gets you access to everything else). From there, much like Amazon Prime Video, you can add specific channels like HBO and Showtime for various additional fees per month.
That being said, the app itself is completely free to download and use. There is no additional cost to using the app, and it allows you to create up to 6 different personalized accounts. This way, you can have separate accounts for your family and friends, so that everyone can access your Hulu account without having to share a login information.
Suggestions that I have for the Hulu App
Unfortunately, there are occasional glitches with the Hulu app. There have been reports of closed captioning errors, the rewind feature not working, and some minor sound problems here and there. So my main suggestion is to eliminate these minor bugs in order to create a truly flawless mobile experience for the Hulu app.
Conclusion
Based on ratings, the Hulu app might be the best premium streaming app currently on the market. There may be a few small glitches, but for what it's worth, this is quite possibly the best free app you'll find. If you have a Hulu account, it's a must-have, and if you're considering getting one, I strongly urge you to do so - especially if you watch a lot of content on your phone or tablet!
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