Streaming videos together while we\u2019re apart has (unsurprisingly) become a popular pastime while the world hunkers down during the pandemic, and now two of the biggest streaming services are joining the \u201cwatch party\u201d craze.<\/p>\n
Hulu has begun testing a watch party feature that lets groups of up to eight viewers stream videos together. Meanwhile, Plex, the DVR and media-streaming service, just unveiled a watch party feature of its own.<\/p>\n
Hulu Watch Party is, for now, only available on Hulu.com, and only if you\u2019re subscribed to Hulu\u2019s $12-a-month plan, which lets you watch ad-free videos.<\/p>\n
To launch Hulu\u2019s Watch Party feature, you just click the \u201cWatch Party\u201d icon on the Details page of a given video. Once you do, you\u2019ll be able to invite other viewers by sending them a link. Users must be 18 or over to start or join a watch party (better have your ID handy), and everyone in the group will need to be subscribed to Hulu\u2019s $12\/month subscription tier.<\/p>\n
Those in the watch party will be able to chat during the stream, as well as pause the video independently and then catch up to the group by clicking a button.<\/p>\n
Hulu says that \u201cthousands\u201d of TV shows and movies will support the Watch Party feature; in other words, not every title in Hulu\u2019s on-demand library will offer \u201cWatch Party\u201d functionality.<\/p>\n Plex\u2019s \u201cWatch Together\u201d feature lets users party up to stream titles from Plex\u2019s free on-demand movie and TV library, as well as personal content from their own Plex media servers.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"plex](\"https:\/\/images.idgesg.net\/images\/article\/2020\/05\/plex-watch-together-100843324-orig.jpg\")
<\/a> Plex<\/small>