Techssocial | The development of OTT platforms like Netflix, Hotstar, Prime Video, and Hulu has been an enormous blessing to those who wish to watch premium shows while traveling, eating, or simply waiting for time to pass. Not only do these send you into a fun made-up world instantly, but they also usually have an added benefit of no ads! There’s no more waiting for an advertisement to finish. You can press pause and take a break whenever you need. But these features depend on the type of subscription you’ve chosen to take.
Most OTT apps, including Hulu, have differently priced subscription plans that give users various benefits like ad-free, exclusive shows. If you have a Hulu Subscription and still get ads, you must be wondering why in the world is that happening? Do I have the wrong plan, or is it a problem from Hulu’s side? It is a very welcomed question here in this article as we will discuss why does Hulu have ads?
Apart from knowing why Hulu has ads, we will also suggest a few tips and tricks on avoiding those ads on Hulu. This article will also discuss the types of Hulu subscriptions available for users to get an ad-free, uninterrupted experience. So let’s muster along and dive right into this article, hopefully providing you with some much-needed relief from advertisements.
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Table of Contents
Why Does Hulu Have Ads?
This indeed is confusing, and you also must be thinking that if this is wrong, why is the service still popular? Why isn’t it being sued? So, these are some simple acquisitions transparent from the mind of the viewers of Hulu, but we reckon that we can take you out of your misery amidst the clutter. We understand that this is confusing, and you also must be thinking that if this is wrong, why is the service still popular? Why isn’t it being sued? So, these are some simple acquisitions transparent from the mind of the viewers of Hulu, but we reckon that we can take you out of your misery amidst the clutter.
We surmise that ads on Hulu are a good thing because we grasp how it is. But, usually, many people don’t. It’s natural and understood. But bear with us because clarity is waiting for you further on. Showing ads is the way for Hulu to make certain content available to you from a third party, which is not exclusive to Hulu. Thus Hulu cannot show complete control. We also believe that by showing ads on third-party content, Hulu is creating a source of income from the benefactor, allowing them to continue providing their audience with a more extensive show library and thus improving their content availability.
Most people prefer using an app with a broader range and genre of shows than one with a limited number of shows. Imagine if there were no ads on Hulu how basic and limited the content library would become. Moreover, the ads shown aren’t very targeted or annoying as they are very limited in number and come either at the start or end of the episode or movie. Mid-rolls are rare, and if they happen, they are just promotional.
We do not hope to justify Hulu’s ad policy through this discussion as we too suffer from them, but rather educate the audience about why OTT apps choose to include ads despite it not being a people pleaser. Let’s take a deeper look into this topic and dwell a little on their platform’s various subscription plans.
Why Does Hulu Have Ads When I Pay for No Ads?
Getting ads when you’ve paid for the ‘no-ads’ scheme feels like a scam. Most angry users would immediately pick up their cell phones or laptop and write a lengthy mail to the Hulu customer service expressing their confusion. But what they don’t realize is that the fine print they probably forgot to read explains why they might have to bear ads on certain shows. Hulu has disclaimers that clearly read that it will show ads on ‘excluded content’ in each of their subscription packages. If you want to know more about ‘excluded content’ on Hulu, you might want to check this article which discusses it in detail.
Hulu offers a non-generic catalog comprehensible covering all the channels, shows, or movies it contains within it. They have a long list of content that can be accessed through an app or browser, and you are charged just for this encompassing ‘no ads’ deal. However, to make the viewing experience even richer, Hulu allows certain shows or movies not in its catalog to be streamed through its app via a third-party service.
The streaming rights to these specific contents are conditional and require Hulu to show ads to its consumer base. Thus, even if you do have the most premium Hulu package, you’ll still see ads if the content is not signed directly to Hulu.
But, Hulu should get more transparent and show their terms very transparently as we collect these inquiries daily in loads. People aren’t entirely made aware of the whole ‘no-ads’ scenario, and thus, it’s damaging the reputation of Hulu itself just because they don’t tell the entire thing openly (but it’s there for those who search).
How to Get Rid of Hulu Ads?
Hulu has a DVR feature that allows you to record shows or serials that you wish to watch and use a playback feature to watch it later on your leisure. This enables you to skip ads by simply fast-forwarding the part and gives you an ad-free experience with your shows. Another secret technique that avid ad-haters have developed to trick the ad system is opening the Hulu app on two different browser tabs. This method works well with the basic $6 plan that offers up to two screens for usage.
The process for this to work is a little tedious and time-consuming as well. We have detailed the method below; following the steps will help give you an ad-free experience.
- Open Hulu on two fresh browser tabs
- Separate the Hulu tabs so that the screens are present side by side
- Play the video on the first screen, and when the advertisement starts on that screen, switch to the other screen and play the video at the same time-stamp in the second screen and vice versa
- This will technically allow you to watch shows ad-proof but not ad-free
Note: As the technique mentioned above can be frustrating, you can use the paid service called MySpeed by Enounce, which can be installed on your computer. This service allows you to speed up an ad’s duration up to six times with the 7-day free trial. Do keep in mind that third-party applications can be harmful to your device, so it’s important to download it from a reliable source only.
What Are the Types of Hulu Subscriptions?
Hulu Basic
The Hulu Basic subscription is the most popular plan used due to its pricing. At only $6 per month, this plan is easy on the pocket and can be used by a broad audience. Most users were satisfied with this plan but did complain about the high frequency of ads while watching shows. This could lead to an unpleasant experience, especially if you prefer to binge their shows uninterrupted. If your only concern is where to watch a show though, then this might be the right plan for you.
Why should you buy this subscription?
- Affordable monthly expense
- Two screens available
- Wide range of shows
Drawbacks
- Ads-supported version
- No live channels
- No offline downloading
Hulu (No-ads)
At a total of $12, this subscription plan gives you that ad-free experience you’re looking for. But only on those shows that come under the Hulu catalog. While it is slightly pricier than the basic plan, the added expense allows Hulu not to show you ads while keeping up its profits. Users of Hulu were satisfied with this plan, but some users remarked that rival streaming apps like Netflix or Prime have completely ad-free content at slightly lower prices. The purchase of one OTT app over the other depends entirely on your choice of show or movie. At the price and benefits, this plan is ideal for those who can’t sit through long ads but still crave good media.
Why should you use this subscription?
- No ads on Hulu catalog content
- Allows two screens
Drawbacks
- Ads on excluded content
- No live channel
- No offline downloading
Hulu Basic + Live TV
While this plan is not ad-free, it gives access to live TV for those who have content they want to watch on cable channels. This plan can be helpful to sports enthusiasts and day-time show watchers who prefer to record their favorite segment and rewatch it while relaxed in bed late at night. It does come at the high cost of $65 and is not for everyone. Ultimately your subscription depends on your need for a particular plan. Users with this plan seemed to be satisfied with the availability of channels and shows by Hulu. Still, some did note that in-depth research on the exact content available is recommended to suit your needs better.
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Why should you use this subscription?
- 65+ live channels
- Allows cloud DVR storage
- Two screens
- Hulu catalog content
Drawbacks
- Expensive
- Not ad-free
Hulu No-ads + Live TV
At $71, this premium plan is the most expensive but yet comprehensive package available by Hulu. The features available via this subscription won’t leave you lacking anything, except maybe a bit of pocket change. Users of this plan seemed very happy with the feature but were confused about why they should encounter ads despite paying such a high amount. As far as we understand, it is just so that they can provide you with content from third-party apps without suffering a loss. While the benefits of this plan are much more significant than the drawbacks, price is an integral part of any transaction. If the price is too high, any of the formerly mentioned subscriptions can be used for cheaper options.
Why should you use this subscription?
- Two screens
- Ad-free Hulu catalog
- Live TV available
- Offline watching
- 50 hours of cloud DVR recording
Drawbacks
- Expensive plan
Closure
Ads are annoying. There’s no other way to put it. Especially when you’re on the brink of a major plot reveal, and suddenly you hear the tell-tale sound of your local soap brand ringing its jingle into your ears. But sometimes they are unavoidable, and other times they depend on how much of your monthly budget you’re willing to spend on OTT apps.
Hulu is an app that utilizes ads to increase the content available on its platform, but this might not be convenient for everybody. While Hulu has a very well-rounded service, it lacks in certain areas that other available streaming apps may fill up. We hope your confusion about why does Hulu have ads has been cleared. If you still feel that Hulu should improve its ads policy, share your thoughts in the comment section below.
We acknowledge that the premium principle is all about exclusive services and enhanced comfortability. But if they can’t change the existing ones, they should add another higher-priced plan that offers absolutely zero adverts, as some of us are willing to pay anything to save our time on ads. This may increase Hulu’s popularity and usability quite a lot. Do you have similar thoughts on the matter? Let us know!
Hemant is Digital Marketer and he has 6 + years of experience in SEO, Content marketing, Infographic etc.