Hulu is finally seeing the error of its ways and is finally offering a no ads option to its streaming video customers. The option does come at a $4 premium over the normal $8 monthly subscription fee.
Hulu will charge $12 a month for its ad-free version, while continuing to market its ad-supported service. Netflix charges new subscribers $9 a month for its service; Amazon streams video for free for people who subscribe to its $99-a-year Prime shipping service.
MacTrast first reported back in July that Hulu was considering adding an ad-free tier to its premium subscription. It was a big step for the streaming service, as its owners, Disney, 21st Century Fox and Comcast’s NBCUniversal have business models that are reliant on selling television ads. The 50% jump in price for the no ads option is likely meant to give Hulu’s nine million subscribers pause when they consider the jump to the no ads viewing tier.
There will still be seven Hulu shows that will still sport ads – “New Girl,” “Scandal,” “How to Get Away With Murder,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Agents of Shield” and “Grimm” – running a 15-second commercial before each show’s start, and a 30-second ad at the end, with no commercials running during the programs.
For more information about the new ad-free subscription service, visit the Hulu website.
