In light of the current dispute between Disney and Spectrum Communications, Hulu + Live TV has announced a limited-time offer for new and eligible returning subscribers. Starting this Friday, the streaming service is offering a discounted rate of $49.99 per month, valid for three months.
This offer has been announced during a period where Disney, owning two-thirds of Hulu, is in the midst of a significant carriage disagreement with Spectrum Communications. The fallout from this disagreement has seen several Disney linear networks, such as ESPN and ABC, being unavailable on Spectrum’s cable platforms since the end of August.
The discount coincides with the U.S. Open championship rounds taking place this weekend, a significant event usually broadcasted on ESPN and ABC. These networks hold the U.S. broadcasting rights for this prestigious tennis event in New York City, a major market for Spectrum. To mitigate the situation, ESPN has provided around 15 to 20 players, select media personnel, and some ESPN staff complimentary access to Hulu + Live TV so they can keep up with the tournament developments while in the city.
In addition to the tennis championship, the season premiere of Monday Night Football is also set to occur soon, featuring the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. However, potential subscribers should note that this offer will end on October 11.
At the moment, the cost for Hulu + Live TV stands at $69.99 per month with the inclusion of ads, and $82.99 for the ad-free version. An increase in the pricing structure was announced earlier in August, with the new prices set to take effect on October 12, raising the ad-inclusive plan to $76.99 and the ad-free plan to $89.99.
Meanwhile, the dispute between Spectrum and Disney continues, leaving nearly 15 million Spectrum TV users without access to 18 Disney networks and eight ABC stations. Spectrum CEO, Chris Winfrey, recently indicated that the company might consider moving away from video services permanently if a quick resolution is not reached, affecting millions of subscribers and leaving the future of the agreement uncertain.
