According to Variety, Hulu and Disney+ will be merged into the same service. The new combined service will be available in 2026.
“Today we are announcing a major step forward in strengthening our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney+,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney CFO Hugh Johnston regarding the media giant’s earnings this quarter, per Variety. “This will create an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news, and industry-leading live sports content in a single app.”
Per Variety, the executives also touched on the idea that combining the services together would result in a better product for consumers: “By creating a truly differentiated streaming offering, we will be providing subscribers tremendous choice, convenience, quality, and enhanced personalization. This will enhance our ability to continue to grow profitability and margins in our entertainment streaming business through expected higher engagement, lower churn, and advertising revenue potential, as well as operational efficiencies that over time may result in savings that we can reinvest back into the business.”
In their prepared statements, the executives also touched on how Hulu would appear in the Disney+ User Interface, saying that it will be a title on the Disney+ app that can be used to access Hulu series, according to Variety: “Work is already underway to continue enhancing our technology, and over the coming months, we will be implementing numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalized homepage,” the two said.
As Variety reports, Disney+ subscribers have been able to access Hulu from the Disney+ app as a way to incentivise customers getting the Hulu and Disney+ bundle since 2024.
The live portion of the Hulu app will be combined into Fubo as a result of an upcoming sale of the Fubo service to Disney per Variety. Users will still be able to buy a stand-alone Hulu subscription.
