UPDATE ( September 15, 2017) - Hulu's channel in the Roku Channel Store has been updated with Hulu’s new user interface ("Hulu's New Experience") and Hulu Live TV (beta). Click here for more information.

UPDATE! As of Aug 25, 2017, the channel code for the Hulu Beta channel is no longer functional. The Hulu Beta channel is still working on my Roku, but new users will not be able to install the channel.

UPDATE - As of September 15, 2017 the channel code has been removed from Hulu's Beta Preview setup guide and has been replaced with instructions for beta testers to click the link in an email sent to them. Hulu obviously intends for the Roku beta channel to be used by a select group of beta testers, not by the general public.

Channel Description: The Hulu Beta private Roku channel offers Roku users a user interface that is radically different than the official Hulu channel, and it includes access to Hulu's Live TV Beta service, which is not yet available in the official channel.

For those unfamiliar with Live TV Beta, the service provides live and on-demand programming from more than 50 popular television channels, in addition to Hulu's existing streaming library. Live TV Beta also includes 50 hours of Cloud DVR recording storage (with optional upgrade to 200 hours of storage) and allows two simultaneous streams per account (with optional upgrade to unlimited in-home concurrent screens).

Hulu Live TV Beta subscribers will need Roku firmware version 7.7 to stream live TV. I tested this by trying the live TV service on a Roku 3 that was recently updated to firmware version 7.7 and an older Roku XS that is still running version 7.6. Live TV played flawlessly the 7.7 box, but on the 7.6 box I received repeated errors and, when the video would play, it would often pause to rebuffer. (To check which firmware version your Roku has installed, go to the Roku's home screen select Settings >> System >> About and look for the number next to "Software version."

If you only subscribe to Hulu's on-demand service, or if you subscribe to Hulu Live TV Beta but only plan to watch on-demand video, you can still use the Hulu Beta private Roku channel even if your Roku has yet to receive the 7.7 firmware update. The user interface, often referred to in marketing materials as "the new Hulu experience," offers the following navigation aids at the top of the home screen:

Home lists content selected based on your viewing habits

lists content selected based on your viewing habits My Stuff is your watch list, which contains videos and series that you want to keep track of

is your watch list, which contains videos and series that you want to keep track of Browse lets you explore the entire Hulu library

lets you explore the entire Hulu library Search is where you can find a specific title

There is also a "fliptray" function that you can use during playback to find out what's next in your viewing lineup. A demonstration of the new user interface is shown in the following video from Hulu, and several screenshots from the Hulu Beta private channel are shown below.





CHANNEL ACCESS CODE: QNGDQR6

FEES: Click here to subscribe

On-demand only, with limited commercials - $7.99/month

On-demand only, with no commercials - $11.99/month

On-demand plus Live TV Beta, with limited commercials - $39.99/month

On-demand plus Live TV Beta, with no commercials - $43.99/month

(For new accounts, only on-demand plans are offered on sign up. You will need to add Live TV as a premium add-on after signing up for an on-demand plan.)

Rates are accurate as of August 16, 2017, but subject to change. Visit the Hulu Website for current rates.

RELATED LINKS:

Hulu Website

-- Information is current as of August 16, 2017