In the era of technological advancements, cable TV is history. More and More viable options are there in the market, and two of the most popular and advanced Live TV streaming services are YouTube TV and Hulu Live TV. That is if you don’t spend your entire watching videos on your phone. In which case you’ll mostly just be browsing through browsers with flash players on Android for videos or maybe on iPhone.
Hulu Live TV has one of the
broadest audience outreach and overall user base, second only to Sling TV. In
contrast, YouTube TV is one of the best due to its user-friendly interface and
overall performance.
So how to decide and based on which parameters we can compare the two Live Streaming Giants so that we can better determine which one to opt for –
The comparative analysis will be based on Parameters:
- Content
Quality
- Price
to be paid ( pocket friendly )
- User
Interface
- Cloud
DVR
- Special
Services
- Customization
A). CONTENT QUALITY
Content quality is based on the
number of channels offered and the scope of coverage ranging from news,
entertainment, sports, science, and others. YouTube is a streaming giant since
the last decade, provides more than 80 channels, and beats Hulu convincingly,
which offers close to 60 channels. But only knowing the number of channels is
not enough. We need to analyze the originality and the quality of the content
provided.
YouTube excels in providing live
coverage of a wide range of sports channels. But on the other hand, Hulu has a
solid mix of news, entertainment, and sports live streaming channels. In June
2020, YouTube partnered with Viacom networks, which enable users to have a more
extensive base for YouTube Live TV.
B). PRICE
In these unprecedented times due
to COVID – 19, almost everyone is going through the financial crisis, and as
such, prices offered by Live Streaming TV services are an essential factor
while choosing which one to opt for. As per the latest rates, the YouTube TV
plan costs $ 64.99 per month while Hulu live TV has the edge over YouTube TV
with monthly plan cost being $ 55 per month. Although for an ad-free
experience, users need to pay an extra $ 6 per month for Hulu live streaming
service.
C). USER INTERFACE
YouTube TV is one
of the oldest in the market and a streaming giant since the last decade has a
very user-friendly interface. Most of the users are well versed with their
platform, and there has hardly been a complaint regarding their platform. On
the other hand, Hulu has experienced past complaints regarding its interface
and is not one of the best user-friendly interfaces in the market.
D). Cloud DVR
Another important factor one
must consider while opting for any Live Streaming TV service is its cloud
storage facility and Recording Facilities provided. YouTube Live TV has a
slight edge over Hulu live TV as it offers unlimited cloud storage, whereas,
for Hulu, the package includes 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage. YouTube TV
provides simultaneous recording while watching, and recordings can be stored in
the cloud for up to 9 months. These offers make YouTube TV a very attractive
choice for the user.
On the other hand, Hulu live
streaming TV offers 200 hours of cloud storage and enhanced recording services
only if you pay extra money. This is a considerable disadvantage when it comes
to Hulu Live streaming TV.
E). Special Services
Every user looks out for some
extra perks when they are paying a hefty amount for live streaming services. If
you are looking for student discounts or annual plans, neither services have
these. Regarding free trials, both the services offer seven days of a free
trial.
If you are looking to enjoy the
streaming services along with your family on multiple screens, then YouTube TV
has a slight edge over Hulu Live streaming TV. YouTube TV offers 3 streaming
screens working at the same time. On the other hand, Hulu TV offers 2 streaming
screens. For enhanced cloud DVR and an Unlimited screen, users need to pay an
extra $ 15 per month for Hulu TV.
F). Customization
Both the streaming platforms provide a vast array of customization options. There are a lot of options available to tune playback quality, audio, visuals, appearance as per user choice in both the streaming giants. Although YouTube has a slight edge over Hulu due to its link with google. As it provides with ever-favorite Google Search Engine. YouTube TV has a disadvantage as it does not allow the removal of ads by paying extra fees. But there is always a skip adoption available.
KEY TAKEAWAY
We have compared both the Hulu
Live streaming TV and YouTube TV on different parameters, and it is challenging
to conclude as to which is better than the other. There is no outright winner,
as both the giants offer various qualities. Youtube TV is more user friendly and
comparatively offers more options whereas Hulu TV is high on quality. The
customization options available on Hulu TV are also more enhanced. Both the streaming giants
provide quality content, and that is visible with their market presence. Both
stream giants combined have the highest audience base and subscribers. They
also offer the broadest range of channels and live streaming of original
content.
In the end, it is better to leave it to the discretion of the user, and whichever service you opt for, there are high-quality perks but also limited disadvantages.