Viewers will still be able to subscribe to each service individually, but they’ll find all content under one roof on Disney+.
WASHINGTON — Hulu’s days as a stand-alone app are numbered. Disney announced Wednesday that it will fully integrate Hulu into the Disney+ app by 2026, marking a shift in the company’s streaming strategy as it aims to streamline offerings.
“Today we are announcing a major step forward in strengthening our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney+,” Disney’s Quarter 3 earning release commentary report said. “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.”
The unified platform will still allow users to subscribe to Hulu or Disney+ individually; however, Hulu as a separate app will no longer exist in favor of the more centralized experience within Disney+.
The decision follows Disney’s $9 billion buyout of Comcast’s remaining one-third stake in Hulu, which Variety reports closed in June after two years of negotiations. Disney had previously integrated Hulu content into the Disney+ app in spring 2024, but still also maintained separate app experiences.
“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,” the commentary report continued.
As part of the change, Hulu will also replace the Star title on Disney+ internationally. Disney teased a wave of new features and a more personalized homepage coming soon to the Disney+ app, with “numerous improvements” rolling out in the coming months.
Disney also announced Wednesday it will stop reporting individual subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, following the lead of Netflix and other streamers, suggesting a shift toward bundled offerings and performance metrics beyond subscriber counts.
“All of this work will culminate with the unified Disney+ and Hulu streaming app experience that will be available to consumers next year,” executives said in the report.
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