Hulu with Live TV: Full Channel List and What Networks You Actually Get

When you sign up for Hulu with Live TV as part of the Disney Bundle, you’re not just getting streaming shows-you’re getting real-time TV. But what does that actually mean? If you’ve ever scrolled through the channel guide and wondered, Hulu with Live TV really gives you, you’re not alone. Many people assume it’s just Hulu’s on-demand library with a few extra channels tacked on. It’s not. It’s a full live TV experience, and the lineup matters more than you think.

What’s Included in Hulu with Live TV

Hulu with Live TV isn’t a single channel. It’s a bundle of over 90 live networks, including local broadcast stations, major cable channels, news outlets, sports networks, and kids’ programming. You get all of this on top of Hulu’s entire on-demand library-current-season episodes, past seasons, originals like The Handmaid’s Tale, and movies. The live TV part starts at $82.99/month as of 2025, and it’s the only way to get live sports like ESPN, local news, and network primetime shows as they air.

The key here is understanding what’s included and what’s not. Some channels are available everywhere. Others depend on your location. And a few are only in certain packages.

Local Broadcast Channels: The Most Important Part

You won’t get every local station in every city, but Hulu with Live TV gives you access to ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and The CW in most major markets. That’s huge. If you’re in New York, you’ll get WABC, WCBS, WNBC, WNYW, and WWOR. In Chicago, it’s WLS, WBBM, WMAQ, WFLD, and WPWR. These are the same stations you’d get with an antenna or a traditional cable box.

Why does this matter? Because live events like the Super Bowl, local news at 6 p.m., and network shows like Grey’s Anatomy or NCIS air on these channels. If you want to watch them as they happen-without waiting for them to appear on-demand-you need these local affiliates. Hulu gets them through agreements with the networks, and they’re updated regularly. If your city isn’t covered, Hulu will tell you upfront during signup.

Major Cable Networks You Actually Get

Beyond local channels, Hulu with Live TV includes dozens of popular cable networks. Here’s the core list you can expect:

• ESPN and ESPN2-for live college football, NBA, MLB, and UFC
• FS1 and FS2-college sports, NASCAR, and soccer
• TNT and TBS-NBA playoffs, Succession, Fuller House
• USA Network-Law & Order, Mr. Robot, WWE
• FX and FXX-What We Do in the Shadows, Atlanta, movie marathons
• Discovery Channel, Science Channel, Animal Planet-documentaries and reality TV
• History Channel-History Detectives, Swamp People
• Bravo-Real Housewives, Top Chef
• AMC-The Walking Dead, Mad Men, Breaking Bad
• Food Network and HGTV-cooking shows and home renovation
• TeenNick, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel-kids’ programming

These aren’t just reruns. These are live feeds. You can watch the NBA playoffs as they happen on TNT, or catch the latest episode of Law & Order on USA Network while it’s airing. No delays. No waiting.

News and Weather: Real-Time Updates

If you want to know what’s happening right now, Hulu with Live TV gives you 24/7 news coverage. You get:

• CNN-national and international breaking news
• MSNBC-liberal-leaning analysis and commentary
• Fox News-conservative-leaning coverage
• ABC News Live-streaming news from the network’s own team
• NBC News Now-on-demand and live news clips
• CBS News-local and national updates
• Bloomberg TV-financial markets and business news
• Local news channels-depending on your market, you’ll get your city’s 24-hour news station

This is especially useful during storms, elections, or major events. You don’t need to switch apps or pull up a website. It’s all in one place.

What’s Missing? The Big Gaps

Hulu with Live TV doesn’t have everything. There are notable exclusions:

• Paramount+ channels like Showtime, MTV, and Comedy Central are not included. You need a separate subscription for those.
• BeIN Sports and beIN SPORTS Xtra are not available.
• Regional sports networks like Bally Sports or AT&T SportsNet are not carried. If you’re a fan of the local MLB or NHL team, you’ll need a separate app or service.
• Adult Swim is not included. You can watch its on-demand content on Hulu, but not live.
• AMC+ premium channel is separate. You get AMC, but not the ad-free, bonus-content tier.

These aren’t small gaps. If you’re a hardcore baseball fan in Cincinnati, you won’t get the Reds on Bally Sports. If you want Shameless on Showtime, you’ll need to pay extra. Hulu’s lineup is strong, but it’s not universal.

Disney Bundle: What You Get for $19.99/month

The Disney Bundle includes Hulu with Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+. That’s three services for $19.99/month if you pay annually. But here’s the catch: the $19.99 price is only for the ad-supported version of Hulu. If you want Hulu (No Ads), it’s $25.99/month with Live TV. And ESPN+ doesn’t include live games from the major leagues-it’s mostly college sports, UFC, and original content.

So if you’re buying the Disney Bundle, you’re not getting the full ESPN experience. You’re getting ESPN+, which is a different product than ESPN on Live TV. You still need the Live TV add-on to watch the NBA Finals or Monday Night Football live. The bundle gives you more content, but it doesn’t replace cable.

How to Check What Channels You’ll Get

Hulu’s channel lineup changes by zip code. There’s no single national list. To see what you’ll actually get:

1. Go to hulu.com/live-tv
2. Enter your zip code
3. Click "See Available Channels"

You’ll see a full list broken down by category: Local, News, Sports, Entertainment, Kids, and More. You can even filter by channel type. This is the only way to know for sure if you’ll get your local Fox station or the NFL Network.

Is Hulu with Live TV Worth It?

If you’re cutting cable, Hulu with Live TV is one of the most balanced options. It’s cheaper than YouTube TV or FuboTV. It gives you more than Sling TV. And the on-demand library is unmatched. But it’s not perfect. You’ll miss some regional sports. You won’t get Showtime. And the interface can be clunky if you’re used to Roku or Apple TV.

But if you care about live TV-especially local news, major sports, and network shows-and you want to keep your monthly bill under $80, it’s one of the best deals out there. Especially when bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+.

What You Can’t Do

There are limits:

• You can’t record more than 50 hours of live TV with the Cloud DVR (upgrade to 200 hours for $9.99/month).
• You can only stream on two devices at once.
• You can’t skip ads on live TV, only on on-demand content.
• You can’t watch live TV outside the U.S., even with a VPN.

These aren’t dealbreakers, but they’re real. If you travel often or want to record every episode of 60 Minutes, you’ll need to plan around these limits.

Final Thoughts

Hulu with Live TV isn’t just another streaming service. It’s your replacement for cable TV-with a few trade-offs. You get the major networks, solid sports coverage, and the best on-demand library in the business. You don’t get every single channel, and regional sports are a blind spot. But for most households, it’s enough. If you’re trying to cancel your cable bill and still watch the game, the news, and your favorite shows as they air, Hulu with Live TV delivers. Just make sure to check your zip code first.