Hulu Is Developing a Cable-Style Online TV Service

More and more, streaming giants cater to the cord-cutting audience with attractive packages to allow viewers some freedom in their subscription, and Hulu might be ready to take the next step. The streaming outlet is reportedly developing a new online subscription to mirror cable, arriving as early as 2017.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Hulu has been quietly developing a service that allows subscribers to stream feeds of popular broadcast and cable TV channels, in hopes of competing with traditional pay-TV providers. Hulu co-owners Disney and 21st Century Fox are also near deals to license their channels for the unnamed platform, including ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, FOX, Fox News, FX and Fox’s national and regional sports channels, with more to come (but nowhere near the hundreds of traditional cable).

The service wouldn’t require an existing Hulu subscription, landing somewhere around $40 a month, and potentially offering a cloud-based digital video recorder for viewers to record and watch past episodes. At least some targeted advertising is expected as well.

Hulu’s new service has been eyed for first-quarter 2017, keeping an announcement window and full details under wraps for the moment, but what should we hope for from Hulu’s next-gen attempt at cord-cutting?

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