Hulu, a popular video streaming platform, has grounded strong roots in the streaming world by providing a vast range of content libraries.
You can always stream and watch the shows and movies your heart is set on.
When using Hulu, you may at times see EXP written next to some shows.
Let’s find out what this means on Hulu.
What Does EXP Mean On Hulu?
EXP on Hulu stands for the expiration of the show.
It is a clear indication of the time of day when the stated show will expire and hence will be removed from the platform.
Therefore, you won’t be able to access the content after the expiration date.
Hulu is a famous America-based streaming platform that launched in 2007.
The Walt Disney Company obtained majority ownership of the platform in 2019.
While its libraries contain some original content from Hulu, it has collaborated with some other networks, too, like FOX, NBC, CBS, ION Television, Brave, Oxygen, etc.
Therefore, it houses those companies’ content in its library, too, by getting licensing permission.
Soon after the licensing period finishes, the content expires, and the Hulu users can’t access it anymore.
If Hulu shows that a certain program is expiring, it is scheduled to be removed from Hulu.
Is All Content Removed From Hulu With Time?
No, not all movies and shows are removed from Hulu.
As mentioned, this streaming platform has two types of content:
- Original
- Licensed Content
The original content of Hulu is not removed from the streaming website and app as it is owned by Hulu.
However, the movies and series that it has bought from exclusive distributors through licensing get removed after a specific time, soon after the service period ends.
How Does EXP Appear On Hulu?
A common question that regular Hulu users ask is how they know when a series or movie will expire or is scheduled to be removed.
The expiry date or time appears on the thumbnail of all the shows.
Mostly it is mentioned in a white block either at the end of the series name or on the bottom left corner in the form of “EXP. X DAYS.”
If the specific expiry date doesn’t appear, it means there is a long way out before the series reaches its deadline.
Just chill and enjoy the show.
Sometimes the show doesn’t expire at the mentioned time and continues to remain available.
In such cases, Hulu has extended the licensing period for that particular movie or series.
Similarly, to make sure you get notified which program is going to be removed soon, the Hulu team moves the expiring content to the My Stuff section of the app.
Moreover, it also appears in the expiring section of Watchlist Hub automatically so that users can know which content is getting removed.
What Do The Different EXP Badges Mean On Hulu?
Different types of expiry badges are often seen on the thumbnail.
Let’s go through the details of a few of them:
1. What Does EXP Today Mean On Hulu?
If you are watching a show that has “EXP TODAY” written on the thumbnail, it means that today is the last day that particular series is available on the platform, and as soon as the time ticks down to midnight, it will no longer be available to be seen.
2. What Does EXP Tomorrow Mean On Hulu?
“EXP Tomorrow” on Hulu means that tomorrow is the last day you can see the given content using Hulu.
After that, it won’t be aired on the platform any longer.
It will not be present in the library the day after tomorrow.
3. What Does EXP Saturday Mean On Hulu?
Just like EXP today, if “EXP Saturday” appears on the screen, it means that the streaming of that series or program will no longer be available or aired after Saturday.
4. What Do EXP 15 Days Mean On Hulu?
If you see “EXP 15 days” on the thumbnail of the show, it means that there are 15 days left in its license.
The night of the 15th day would be the last time you can watch that show on Hulu.
After that, it will be removed from the library.
To cut a long story short, the number or day written next to EXP shows the last day you can access the content.
Make sure you are aware of these expirations so you can watch all your shows before they get removed.
In most cases, the expiry date starts to appear two to three weeks beforehand, giving users enough leverage and time to watch and fully enjoy the show.
Why Does Content Expire On Hulu?
As mentioned earlier, Hulu consists of two kinds of content, one being its own shows and the other being the movie and series that Hulu has aired by buying licenses from its original content creators of it.
The original content of Hulu needs no licensing.
It remains in the library of Hulu forever.
You can access it anytime and enjoy the show.
However, the licensed programs come under a limited version and last on Hulu for a short period.
Hulu buys the legal right to stream them.
Therefore, as soon as the licensing period ends, Hulu has no more legal right and authority to air that show on its platform unless it chooses to renew the license.
As a result, the shows with expired licenses are removed.
Therefore, Hulu always notifies its users beforehand by mentioning the EXP time on the cover or thumbnail of the respective shows.
At What Time Does The Content Expire On Hulu?
Some people think the content randomly gets deleted at any time during the day.
That isn’t the case.
Mostly, the content expires exactly at 12:00 AM (midnight).
For example, if the thumbnail of a show claims to be expiring seven days later or one week later.
Then exactly after the seventh day, at midnight, and the first second of the eighth day passes, the show automatically expires.
As a result, you won’t be able to access that particular content anymore.
It gets deleted from the library of Hulu permanently.
Why Are Only A Specific Number Of Episodes Available When A Show’s Availability Is Rolling?
When a show is rolling, there is an issue in its availability due to which only a specified number of latest episodes are aired and available, and the rest expires as the number proceeds.
For example, if the streaming rights of a show allow only six episodes to be aired at a time, the first episode (earliest episode) will be deleted or expire as soon as the seventh episode is aired.
To know when the previous episode is expiring and a new one is coming, it is recommended by the Hulu team to add the show to your “My Stuff” folder.
In this way, the expiry date will appear on the episode that is about to be removed.
Otherwise, to check how many maximum episodes can be aired at a time, you can get the information by clicking the show’s details page on the official website.
Can Expired Shows Become Available Again On Hulu?
The availability and expiry of a streamed show on Hulu depend solely on the exclusive distributors of that company.
To add a series or program to its library, Hulu first buys the licensing rights from its original creators and gets the authority to stream services.
When the licensing rights expire, the show reaches its deadline.
Now, getting the show back on Hulu depends on the platform itself.
If the platform thinks that buying and airing the same show one more time can be profitable to them by any means, they simply need to buy the licensing rights from the distributing company, and the show will be available in the content library once again.
For example, one such incident happened in October 2019.
The show Rick and Morty was scheduled to be removed soon since the license was ending.
But later, due to the high demand of the viewing audience, Hulu extended the agreement with Warner Media, the original distributors of Rick and Morty, hence, the season wasn’t removed.
However, it rarely happens that the same show is aired more than once.
Mostly, no platform considers buying the same series again unless it is the most demanded show by most of its users.
How To Watch Expired Shows On Hulu
Unfortunately, there is no way to watch expired shows on Hulu again.
Once the license expires, the show is no longer available in the platform’s database, so how can one watch it again?
The only way possible is to wait and hope that Hulu buys the streaming services of the program once again.
Only then can you watch it.
Another possibility is to search for the show on other streaming platforms like Netflix, Redbox, HBO, etc.
Most probably, at least one of the streaming platforms will have its streaming rights.
You can watch that specific show over there if it has expired on Hulu.
Do The Expired Shows Get Deleted If You Have Downloaded Them Beforehand?
Hulu provided its subscribers with a feature similar to that of Netflix, using which they can download a show or movie and then watch it whenever they want to.
As it is already downloaded, no active internet connection is required.
However, most people wonder if their downloaded content also gets deleted when it expires on Hulu?
Unfortunately, yes!
If a program is scheduled to be removed from Hulu, it gets deleted from everywhere, whether you have downloaded it or not.
The feature of downloading can ease the process of viewing as you don’t need an active Internet connection at all.
You can open the episode anytime and continue watching from where you left.
Remember to finish the shows that you have been streaming before they expire and are removed from the platform and you lose access to them.
Which Shows Expiring And Leaving Hulu In July 2022?
Now that you are well up with what EXP stands for on Hulu, and all the stuff that falls under the umbrella of this topic, let’s find out which big-name movies, shows, and anime series are going to leave this streaming platform in July 2022.
If any of these are on your current watch list, it will be a good idea to finish them as soon as possible!
Some of the Hulu shows expiring in July 2022 are:
- Alien Quadrilogy
- China: The Panda Adventure
- The Secret of Life on Earth
- The Rest of Us
- 2099: The Soldier Protocol
- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
- The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
- Bringing Down the House
- Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Which Shows Have Already Expired On Hulu?
Some of the popular shows that have been already been removed from the platform are:
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Jingle All the Way
- The Lightning Thief
- Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love
- A Glitch in the Matrix
- What to Expect When You’re Expecting
- Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?
Apart from these shows, there is a long list that we can’t mention here.
Since Hulu has collaborated with multiple networks, companies, and distributors, it is no wonder that some new shows are aired every day, and others are expired.
What Are The Different Plans And Subscriptions Of Hulu?
Hulu has four different subscription plans to choose from, with an ever-growing number of features and add-ons.
Moreover, in all four plans, you get access to the entire catalog of Hulu.
The plans differ only in terms of the features they provide.
- Hulu Basic
- Hulu Premium (No Ads)
- Hulu + Live TV
- Hulu Premium + Live TV
1. Hulu Basic
The basic plan of Hulu is the most popular one that costs only $6.99 per month and $69 per year.
If you are a college student, you can get it for just $2 per month.
That’s a pretty good deal!
This plan is much cheaper than those of Netflix and HBO, which cost $10 per month in the basic plan.
2. Hulu Premium
On the premium plan of Hulu, there is ad-free streaming, and you can download shows for offline viewing for only $12.99 per month.
This means that your viewing won’t be interrupted by ads.
3. Hulu + Live TV
This plan offers 75 live television cable channels access along with the libraries of Hulu for $69.99 per month.
However, it is not an ad-free plan.
You can cancel the subscription to Live TV anytime if you prefer to shift to the basic Hulu plan.
4. Hulu Premium + Live TV
This plan is one of the best and most expensive plans of Hulu, “Hulu Premium + Live TV,” in which you can access the ad-free version of Hulu, along with the cable of 75 different networks for just $75.99.
The downloading feature comes in this subscription plan, too.
Apart from these, if you want any further add-ons of Premium channels, you need to buy their subscription separately for just $2.99.
Hulu Vs. Netflix: The Better Option
In the world of streaming services, Hulu and Netflix are both well-known among subscribers.
Choosing which platform is better depends on your preference.
Each has its own perks and features that make it better than the other.
Both platforms create original content and also share licensed content.
While there may be some overlapping content on both platforms, each has its own unique content that caters to viewers.
If you love watching movies, Netflix is your good-to-go option, and if you want to stay current and updated on the episodes as soon as they are aired, Hulu has got your back.
Conclusion
Hulu provides its users with great shows, movies, and anime series, proving itself as a good streaming platform.
It has both kinds of content: original and licensed content from other networks.
The licensed content expires after a limited time.
EXP on Hulu indicates the expiration of the show.
It notifies the users about the last date the stated show will be available on Hulu.
Depending on when the content will be removed, you may see messages such as EXP Saturday, meaning the show will expire on the following Saturday.
After that designated date, Hulu will remove the content from its database as the licensing period ends, and no one will be able to access it.
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