Bundle subscribers of Hulu and Disney+ will soon be able to stream content from both platforms in one app. The one-stop streaming service will be available in beta in December this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced. The combined app is expected to hit a stable release in early spring.
Disney is readying a combined app for Disney+ and Hulu subscribers
Disney announced its plans to create a one-app streaming experience for Hulu and Disney+ in May this year. CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the app will be available before the end of 2023. He said a combined service “is a logical progression” of the company’s direct-to-consumer offerings. It will provide “greater opportunities for advertisers while giving bundle subscribers access to more robust and streamlined content…”
Iger has now revealed that the new app is almost here. He shared the news during Disney’s latest earnings call (via Engadget). A beta release in December will allow parents to set up profiles and content controls for their children, ensuring age-appropriate viewing. Disney says this is the key reason for keeping the app in beta for a few months. Since Hulu brings a wide range of content, it will give parents ample time to do the setup before the stable release.
While a combined service will streamline the streaming experience for users who have subscribed to both Disney+ and Hulu in a bundled deal, the Disney CEO said the company may not reap the full benefits of this change until 2025. As you might expect, all of Disney’s streaming services—Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+—will continue to exist as standalone options. This will give customers more choices when picking up their streaming service.
Disney will soon have full ownership of Hulu
Launched in October 2007 as a joint venture between several media and entertainment houses, Hulu will soon be fully owned by Disney. Comcast, which has a 33% stake in the streaming service, is selling its entire stake to Disney. The latter already holds the remaining 67% majority stake.
The two firms agreed on this acquisition in May 2019, setting a guaranteed floor value of $27.5 billion for Hulu. According to that agreement, Disney will pay Comcast a minimum of $8.61 billion to gain full ownership of the streaming service. However, the final price may be higher, as it depends on the equity fair value for Hulu as of September 30, 2023. The deal will close sometime next year.
2023-11-09 15:05:02