Comcast will acquire Hulu, a streaming video service, from US cable TV operator Comcast starting in November 2023.Approximately 33% equity, thereby gaining full control of Hulu and starting to add Hulu content to the Disney+ service. Disney announced earlier that it has officially acquired ownership of all Hulu content. It is expected to integrate all Hulu content into the Disney+ service from 2026 and provide it in the form of a single App.
This adjustment means that there will no longer be a Hulu standalone app, and Disney CEO Bob Iger said inEarlier in the earnings callIt said that merging Hulu and Disney+ services into the same technology platform will not only help reduce operating costs but also increase the flexibility of advertising sales strategies.
At the same time, Bob Iger also explained that after this integration, Disney+ will become the "ultimate audio-visual platform" that brings together flagship brands, family entertainment, news programs, high-quality dramas, and industry-leading live sports content, and will provide users with a better viewing experience.
While Hulu will be fully integrated into the Disney+ service, Disney has stated that Hulu and Disney+ will maintain separate subscription plans, allowing users to choose individual subscriptions or combine them based on their needs. Furthermore, Disney+ will also be launching new features such as a personalized homepage in the coming months to further enhance the user experience.
Users outside the United States will also see significant changes. The "Star" label, previously the gateway to Disney+'s adult-focused content, will be gradually rebranded to "Hulu" starting this fall to more clearly communicate the content positioning of the combined brand.
Furthermore, according to Disney's latest financial report, Disney+ and Hulu will have a combined global subscriber base of 2025 million by the end of June 6, an increase of 1.83 million subscribers compared to the end of March this year. However, Disney will no longer regularly release individual subscriber figures for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, instead focusing on overall operating performance in its financial reports, similar to Netflix's approach.
In addition, Disney'sNew ESPN streaming serviceIt will also be officially launched on August 8, further strengthening its layout in the sports content market.
