Cable is becoming more and more obsolete as the years go by. Services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ are producing programs that rival the best shows that cable offers. However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing worth watching on good ‘ol cable.
At the height of its popularity, Game of Thrones was one of the most-viewed shows on the planet. You couldn’t watch the battle for the Iron Throne on platforms like Netflix. Instead, you needed a cable subscription with HBO to keep updated on the latest Game of Thrones episode.
And that fact still holds to this day. Just like Game of Thrones, you can’t catch the latest episodes of the final season of The Walking Dead on most streaming platforms.Â
So, does this mean that you have to keep paying for cable in 2022?
Luckily for you, there are alternatives to cable TV. Internet TV services, like Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock, allow you to keep up-to-date with the latest episodes of hit cable programs. With internet TV, cable providers are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
In this article, we compare and contrast Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock to help you get the best internet TV service your money can buy.
Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock Free Trials
The vanilla Hulu service comes with a month-long free trial. But the combo Hulu + LiveTV doesn’t come with a free trial period, so you can’t take it for a spin. The selling points of Hulu + live TV plans include streaming access to sports, entertainment, and news channels, plus additional on-demand content.
If you’re looking for another option, Peacock is similar to Hulu + LiveTV. While it doesn’t come with a free trial, it has a free subscription tier. Under the free plan, you can watch most of Peacock’s content without paying anything.
However, the free subscription does come with a caveat. You won’t be able to watch some Peacock content. Add to that, after each hour you spend watching, you’ll have to sit through 5-minute long ads.
If Peacock suits you, you can unlock its entire media library with a paid subscription.
Price
First, you need to study a streaming platform’s price. Consider if what the platform is offering is worth your money. To give you an idea of what your money will get you, here’s the cost of a Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock subscription.
Hulu + LiveTV Price
Right now, Hulu + LiveTV has 4 different options for subscribers.
- Hulu – For $6.99/month, you’ll get Hulu’s full media library with ads.
- Hulu (No Ads) – If you want to catch all of Hulu’s content without ads, it costs $12.99/month.
- Hulu + LiveTV now with Disney+ and ESPN+ – For $69.99/month, you can watch Hulu’s on-demand content, plus cable tv, and Disney+ and ESPN+ programming.
- Hulu + LiveTV (no ads) with Disney+ and ESPN+ – The same package but without ads for $75.99/month.
With Hulu + LiveTV, you can tailor your subscription to fit your needs.
| Hulu + Live TV No Hassle TV $69.99/ month | 65+ Channels 2 simultaneous streams Disney+ and ESPN+ Included | SIGN UP |
Peacock Price
Besides the free subscription, Peacock currently offers 2 different subscription models.
- Premium – For $4.99/month, you’ll get the platform’s entire media library, live sports events including the WWE, and next-day access to current NBC programming.
- Plus – At $9.99/month, you get access to all the same content of the Premium plan with the added benefit of zero ads. Also, you can download your favorite programs and watch them offline.
For a relatively small price, you’re getting a pretty competitive offer if you choose to subscribe to Peacock.
Channels
The most compelling feature of an internet TV platform is its channel lineup. If it has a small selection of channels, it might not be worth the subscription. Luckily, Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock have a pretty healthy selection of channels.
Hulu + LiveTV ChannelsÂ
Hulu + LiveTV has a healthy selection of programming with over 75 channels currently available. Some noteworthy channels include:
- FXÂ
- FYI
- HGTV
- History ChannelÂ
- HLNÂ
- ID
- LifetimeÂ
- LocalishÂ
- Lifetime MovieÂ
- Disney ChannelÂ
- Disney XD
- Disney Kids
- ESPNÂ
- ESPN 2Â
On top of that, Hulu + LiveTV offers add-on content for premium channels like:
- HBO
- Cinemax
- SHOWTIME
- STARZÂ
With Hulu + LiveTV, there’s no worry about having nothing to watch.
Peacock ChannelsÂ
Peacock is primarily focused on NBC-centric channels. But that doesn’t mean that’s all it has to offer. The service has over 50 channels in its channel lineup. Some of the channels in its roster include:
- Movies We Love
- Kiss Me DeadlyÂ
- LOOP Hit Music VideosÂ
- Black-Led ComedyÂ
- Black CinemaÂ
- Black StoriesÂ
- LOL! NetworkÂ
- AFV FamilyÂ
- USA Network
- NFL ChannelÂ
Besides that, with a Peacock subscription, you get access to the WWE Network, which has hours of content from wrestling to reality shows. With Peacock, you’ll get a lot of channels for a low entry fee.Â
Simultaneous Streams
The big advantage internet TV has over cable TV is not having to fight over TV time. Most internet TV platforms have a simultaneous stream feature that allows multiple devices to access the service simultaneously.
Let’s break down the simultaneous streaming options of Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock.
Hulu + LiveTV Simultaneous Streaming
By default, all subscription tiers of Hulu + LiveTV have a 2 device simultaneous stream limit. But, with an additional cost of $9.99/month, you can include an unlimited simultaneous stream add-on to your account.
Peacock Simultaneous Streaming
Peacock one-ups Hulu + LiveTV in this category at its base model. Peacock allows you to stream its content from up to 3 different devices. If you’re looking to use this on more devices, there are currently no options to bypass the simultaneous streaming limit.
DVR
Another important feature to consider is DVR. Sometimes, we all want a record of an episode of a season finale or rewatch our favorite movies. But between Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock, which offers better DVR support?
Hulu + LiveTV DVR
Hulu + LiveTV comes with 50 hours of DVR with its standard plans. But, for an added price of $9.99/month, you can get 200 hours of cloud storage. With Hulu + LiveTV, you can custom-make your DVR limit to suit your fancy.
Peacock DVR
At the moment, Peacock doesn’t have any DVR features. On the other hand, you get free reign to download all the available on-demand content to consume at your leisure. The download feature allows you to enjoy your favorite movies and shows even without an internet connection!
Device Support
To make sure you can access Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock, you need to be aware of their supported devices.
Hulu + LiveTV Device SupportÂ
Today, Hulu + LiveTV has support for most modern devices. Hulu + LiveTV provides app support for:
- Smart TVs – Select Samsung, LG, Android TV, and Vizio TVs
- Streaming Devices – Amazon Fire and Roku devicesÂ
- Game Consoles – Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo SwitchÂ
- iOS – Apple TV, iPhone, and iPadÂ
- Chromecast
Peacock Device SupportÂ
Like Hulu + LiveTV, Peacock is supported on most devices. Peacock has an app available for devices like:Â
- Smart TVs – Select LG, Vizio, Samsung, and Sony models. Smart TVs with android support can install Peacock
- Streaming Devices – Amazon Fire and Roku devicesÂ
- Game Consoles – Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PS4, and PS5
- Apple TV
- ChromecastÂ
On-Demand ContentÂ
One of the biggest features that can sway your choice from one content or another is their selection of on-demand content. So, what do Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock have to offer?Â
Hulu + LiveTV On-Demand ContentÂ
On Hulu + LiveTV, you’ll get access to Hulu’s media library, which has many fan-favorite shows like Family Guy, Rick and Morty, and Survivor. Besides that, you can watch Hulu Originals like American Horror Stories and Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
With Hulu + LiveTV, you’ll get hours upon hours of content to wade through.Â
Peacock On-Demand Content
On Peacock, you can catch all your favorite NBC shows from the past. Shows like Saturday Night Live, Friends, Cheers, and Frasier can be found in Peacock’s media vault. On top of that, you can partake in the WWE Network, which has years of wrestling content to watch.Â
With Peacock, you’ll have something to watch at any time.
Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock Can Fulfill Your Cable Needs
In 2022, cable TV will become totally obsolete. But before cutting your cord, how can you be sure to keep updated on your favorite shows?
With services like Hulu + LiveTV and Peacock, you don’t have to worry about cutting that cord. With these internet TV platforms, you can stay current with your favorite programming and get added features like DVR and a library of on-demand content.
