Disney Starts Integrating Hulu into Disney+ Streaming Service
More Variety for Disney+ Subscribers
Walt Disney has combined Hulu with its Disney+ streaming service, offering a more diverse range of content to its subscribers. This move will provide access to general entertainment fare, including popular reality shows and intense drama series, such as “The Kardashians” and “The Bear.”
“Hulu on Disney+” Beta Version Launch
The combined offering, called “Hulu on Disney+,” is currently available in an early “beta” version for domestic subscribers to the Disney Bundle of streaming services. The official launch is scheduled for March, introducing a unified one-app experience for certain Disney+ subscribers.
Expectations and Goals
Disney CEO Bob Iger anticipates that the integration will bring increased engagement, more advertising opportunities, lower churn, and reduced customer acquisition costs. This aligns with the company’s goal of achieving profitability in its streaming business by the end of fiscal 2024.
Acquisition of Hulu from Comcast
In preparation for the integration, Disney acquired the remaining stake in Hulu from NBCUniversal parent Comcast for at least $8.6 billion. The move paved the way for Hulu to be included alongside other entertainment brands like Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar in the top promotional carousel on Disney+.
Disney initially reduced operating losses to $420 million by the end of September 2021, marking a significant improvement from the previous year. The company is on track to achieve profitability and continues to focus on strengthening its streaming services to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers.
