Hulu added 8 million subscribers last year, leaving the streaming platform with more than 25 million total subscribers on board with their on-demand and live TV services in the U.S. The company announced that they have a 48 percent increase in subscribers from this time last year.
Netflix is still in the No. 1 spot among the streamers, with 137 million global subscribers and 58 million U.S. subscribers.
Over the past year, Hulu expanded its on-demand library to host more than 85,000 TV episodes, almost double the amount that Netflix and Amazon have, according to Hulu’s internal metrics and information from third-party measurement firm Ampere. Hulu’s technology and product teams improved the stability and usability of its Live TV service (Hulu + Live TV), reducing buffering by 90%, and introducing new features including live game start notifications and an enhanced channel guide so viewers can view content faster.
Hulu also added more choice to its content packages last year with the launch of STARZ as its fourth premium content add-on (joining HBO, Cinemax, and Showtime) as well as eight live Discovery networks and a new Spanish-language live TV add-on.
The Handmaid’s Tale starring Elizabeth Moss is Hulu’s most-watched original series, and the Stephen King series Castle Rock is Hulu’s highest performing new original.
Hulu will soon be controlled by Disney as they finalize their acquisition of most Fox assets.
