Get two free months of Hulu Plus
It's for new customers only, of course, but it's still a $16 value and a great way to watch TV shows on your Roku box, mobile device, and more.
Hulu. It's kind of the outcast of streaming services, the often-overlooked also-ran that sits in the shadow of Amazon Prime and Netflix. Sure, you can often watch a season's worth of current-run TV shows, to say nothing of full series' worth of older shows, but you have to sit through commercials. And the selection is anything but comprehensive. ("Breaking Bad"? Nope. "Orphan Black?" Nope. Even "Under the Dome" kicks you out to CBS' own site.)
On the other hand, the new Hulu original series "The Awesomes" is actually quite good, and if you're exploring your cord-cutting options, Hulu -- specifically, Hulu Plus, which gives you access on your Roku box, game console, smartphone, tablet, etc. -- really does deserve a spot on the short list.
A subscription normally costs $7.99 per month, but right now you can get Hulu Plus free for two months. (This is for new subscribers only; current and past subscribers aren't eligible.)
That's a mighty fine freebie, if you ask me. Hulu Plus is far from perfect, but it's still a great way to watch current shows you might have missed ("Hollywood Game Night," "Rookie Blue," etc.) or revisit classic series (of which Hulu has a ton).
Yeah, I know, you're stuck watching commercials. They're brief, but still. It seems particularly egregious when you consider that Amazon Prime and Netflix run commercial-free -- for the same $7.99 per month. What you're paying for here is the convenience of watching, say, last night's episode of "America's Got Talent."
And, yeah, Hulu's movie library still blows. It makes Netflix's movie catalog look like the AFI Top 100.
But enough about the downsides. With two free months, you have more than ample opportunity to try Hulu Plus for yourself and see if it enhances your TV-watching life. Just make sure to mark your calendar so you remember to cancel (if you decide to do so); otherwise you'll start getting billed come early October.
If I sound hard on Hulu, it's only because I love television and want the service to realize its full potential. Your thoughts?