Hulu Hits 1 Million Live TV Subscribers

Hulu’s big year just got bigger. Over the weekend, the streaming platform announced that their new live TV service has over 1 million subscribers, and that number will likely continue to grow now that the fall TV season is in full swing (between sports and the return of network favorites, cord-cutting viewers will be scrambling to stream live content). With 20 million subscribers, Hulu is sitting squarely in second place behind Netflix in the streaming wars, but the platform is looking to get a leg up during tonight’s Emmy Awards, where it is nominated in a variety of key categories, including Best Drama.

Last year, Hulu made history when The Handmaid’s Tale became the first streaming show to win Best Drama, and the platform is looking to repeat that feat this year. Hulu is nominated for 27 awards, including Best Actress in a Drama for The Handmaid’s Tale’s Elisabeth Moss, Best Actor in a Limited Series for Jeff Daniels in The Looming Tower, and Best Variety Sketch Series for I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman.

Clearly, Hulu is producing high-quality TV across multiple genres, but the platform is eager to show off its additional features. “People think of us as TV,” chief marketing officer Kelly Campbell told USA Today. “That’s great, but we need people to take another look so they realize all we have to offer now.”

In order to push viewers towards the live TV service, Hulu is debuting a new commercial during the Emmy awards that urges viewers to “never get Hulu.” Stars like Sofia Vergara, Samira Wiley, Joe Manganiello, and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden promise that Hulu’s winning combination of content will change how you think about TV. “With tons of shows and movies, exclusive originals, plus live TV for sports,” begins Manganiello. “It’ll ruin TV for you forever,” says Harden.
Watch Hulu’s Emmys commercial above. Hopefully it doesn’t ruin TV for you forever.