In a move many find overdue, Hulu is finally offering their movies without commercials. Of course, you have to pay to get this service. In this respect, Hulu is also offering a couple of rates that they are betting viewers will not mind paying.
For $11.99 per month, movie lovers get the “no commercial” plan for a completely ad-free viewing experience. A “limited commercial” plan is also available for $7.99 per month which provides access to premium movies but still has ads, Vox reports.
Introducing #hulu's new commercial-free option. Limited Commercials or No Commercials... It’s up to you. https://t.co/KNzleEhx0I
— hulu (@hulu) September 2, 2015
This change renders the old “Hulu Plus” extinct but also brings Hulu closer to its dream of becoming a major Netflix alternative. This is clearly evident by the price difference Hulu is offering. At the moment, Netflix charges $8.99 per month for its premium services, a good $3 from Hulu’s priciest offering.
This new zero ad offer from Hulu gave Seinfeld fans a huge sigh of relief. When Hulu announced that the classic series would now be carried by them, many people were quick to criticize that the presence of ads in a TV series makes it no different from regular TV.
Also, the recent news about Hulu acquisition of Epix movies is sure to drive its viewership upwards. With premium movies from Viacom, Lionsgate, MGM, and Paramount Studios now available on Hulu, they are positioning themselves in between Netflix and cable TV.
Advertisers are also not that concerned with the new premium rates of Hulu. The Wall Street Journal reports that Kris Magel, chief investment officer at media-buying firm Initiative, says, “There aren’t that many people in the U.S. that are going to shell out $12 a month to avoid ads.” He adds, “I don’t believe this is going to wipe out their ad business.”
