Hulu Service to Be Consolidated as Disney Plans Comprehensive Integration
Disney to Combine Hulu and Disney+ into a Single Unified Streaming App by 2026
Disney has announced plans to fully integrate Hulu and Disney+ into a single unified streaming app, marking the end of Hulu as a separate streaming service. The integration, which is expected to launch sometime in 2026, aims to provide subscribers with tremendous choice, convenience, quality, and enhanced personalization.
Starting in autumn 2025, Hulu will replace the "Star" brand on Disney+ for international markets as part of this transition. Subscribers will still have options to buy Hulu and Disney+ as separate subscriptions, but both services will be offered through the combined Disney+ app.
Hulu's live TV service will be merged with FuboTV, another Disney-owned streaming service, and integrated into Disney+ in 2026. However, the Hulu + Live TV and Fubo brands will remain separately sold and marketed initially.
Disney CEO Bob Iger highlighted that the integration aims to improve the user experience, reduce subscriber churn, create operational efficiencies, and unlock additional advertising opportunities. The merger has been in motion since spring 2024 when Disney+ began integrating Hulu content to encourage bundled subscriptions.
Work is underway to enhance the technology within the Disney+ app, with numerous improvements and new features to be implemented over the coming months. The launch date for ESPN's stand-alone streaming product has been set for Aug. 21, priced at $29.99/month.
Disney paid Comcast a total of $9 billion to buy out NBCUniversal's one-third stake in Hulu, including $8.61 billion in November 2023 and $438.7 million this past June. The move to merge Hulu into Disney+ could save the company billions of dollars through cost synergies.
The combined offering aims to provide an improved consumer experience and lower churn. Disney will no longer report streaming subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, following the lead of Netflix and others.
[1] Disney to Merge Hulu and Disney Plus into Single Streaming Service
[2] Disney Plans to Combine Hulu and Disney+ into a Single Streaming Service by 2026
[3] Disney to Merge Hulu and Disney+ into Single Streaming Service
[4] Disney to Combine Hulu and Disney+ into a Single Streaming App by 2026
[5] Disney to Merge Hulu and Disney+ into Single Streaming Service by 2026
[1] This move by Disney aims to improve the user experience and lower churn, as they plan to combine Hulu and Disney+ into a single streaming service, contributing to cost savings and unlocking new advertising opportunities in the realm of business and technology.
[2] In the future, entertainment enthusiasts can expect a greater choice and convenience, as Disney works towards integrating Hulu and Disney+ into a unified streaming app by 2026, allowing subscribers to access both services through the combined Disney+ app, and enriching the streaming landscape with enhanced personalization.
