jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Can you tell me what Hulu actually offers? I know they have a free version and one for $7.99/month. Their site doesn't explain very much about what is actually available. I know I can try it for a week for free, but that might involve having to contact them to cancel so they don't start charging me - something that can be difficult.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I saw that, but I'm looking for comments from users. I know some of their content is current, but lots of it is "archived." I'd like to cut down on my cable bill, but not if I'm going to miss the few shows I watch.

I'd like an actual list, rather than "and many others." I might take a chance on the free week if it doesn't require a credit card to be free.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I'm curious too. Thank you.

dglphoto Loc: Lynnwood, WA

Well, I can't give you an actual list but I have been a paid member for over a year. I like it though the content isn't as current as what you get from the more expensive cable providers.
Here is my understanding of how it works - Hulu contracts with networks for the rights to air shows those networks aired. They have to negotiate for each show they want, so they while they have many shows, they don't have all of them. Some of the shows you see on Hulu Plus (the paid version) are of the current season. In addition they have partial or even full seasons of many old shows that are no longer in production. But even with these old shows, Hulu has to negotiate a contract to get them. I don't know what that involves, but I know it can take a long time or a short time. I don't know the parameters which make it one or the other. As an example, consider the old Star Trek Enterprise, which last aired live in 2004. I couldn't get ALL of those episodes in Hulu Plus until just last year. On the other extreme, many brand new shows airing currently, are available on Hulu 24 hours after the owning network airs it through its regular channels. Though with some shows the availability on Hulu is 30 days after it aired. It depends on the show and the owning network.
Then there are those shows that used to be available but then stop being available on Hulu. I used to watch "Switched at Birth" a show on the ABC Family network. Its episodes were available directly from ABC Family website 24 hours after they first aired. They were also available on Hulu at the same time. But now they are NOT available at all either on ABC Family or on Hulu Plus. I can only get it if I subscribe to a regular cable provider (at $25 per month or higher) which I choose not to do. I don't understand their rationale but I suspect that as shows become popular and a little famous, the sponsors/networks seem to start seeing "$" and restrict access to the show unless you pay a cable provider.
So while I can't get everything on Hulu and some shows I can't get at all, I still get quite a bit and enjoy it. I especially like the price ($7.95 / month). I can't give you a complete list, that would be too labor intensive.
Also, as you are already aware, you can subscribe to Hulu for free. The list of shows you can get with this type of subscription is a lot less than the paid subscription. But you can get quite a bit with the free subscription. I was a free subscriber for 2 years before I decided I wanted more and started paying.
I hope this helps. If you have specific questions beyond what you already have asked, please post them.

eye2eye Loc: Chicago, Illinois

The problem with asking a question on here is you get 90 different opinions then you're right back where you started wondering what you should do.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. That tells me a lot.

I have Netflix and Roku and Amazon Prime, along with Time Warner, so I'll have to see what I can do with Hulu.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like getting lots of opinions. Then, when I make a bad choice, I have lots of people to blame.

eye2eye Loc: Chicago, Illinois

EXACTLY!!! lol

dljen Loc: Central PA

HA!!!

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

Jerry, you constantly crack me up! :thumbup: :thumbup:

mikeford45 Loc: Downingtown, PA

Why not just sign up for Amazon Prime. Free shipping on all purchases and loads of movies and TV shows to watch. Have spent hours watching there offerings.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I was under the impression that the paid subscription allowed you to watch without ads - but I did that and still had to watch ads. Maybe there are fewer.... But I find that Hulu doesn't really have much that I watch so I am cancelling it. They do have some recent shows - but the few that I regularly watch I can record anyway. Netflix is worth the monthly fee, though, because they have a lot of original content, a lot of movies, and entire seasons of a lot of shows.

dglphoto Loc: Lynnwood, WA

I too was under the impression that the paid version, i.e. Hulu Plus, allowed one to watch without ads. But it still has ads. So that is one thing I am disappointed in. But since it has most of the content I am interested in, I stick with it. I would like to know why I still get ads when it was sold to me as being ad free.

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

But just think, you get 90 options to consider. Where else can you get that free?