The Hulu App May Not Be Long for This World

Hulu shows and movies have been available to stream on Disney+ for a while now, but Disney announced today that it finally plans to fully merge the two into a single app.

Disney CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston dropped the news in the company’s third-quarter earnings report this morning.

In a statement, the two said that work is already underway to introduce new improvements in the Disney+ app in the coming months, including a more personalized homepage. They added that all this work will culminate in a “unified Disney+ and Hulu streaming app experience” next year.

“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,” said Iger and Johnston.

On the business side, Disney is betting that a single app will mean more eyeballs, fewer cancellations, and a bigger payday from advertisers. Merging the apps could also help Disney cut down on operating costs.

Some media outlets have reported that Disney will also phase out the Hulu app next year; however, standalone subscriptions for each service will still be available. Disney+ did not immediately respond to Gizmodo’s request for comment.

The move comes just weeks after Disney bought out Comcast’s remaining stake in Hulu. The service launched back in 2007 as a joint venture between News Corp and NBCUniversal. Disney took control in 2019 when it acquired 21st Century Fox, then later scooped up the remaining shares from AT&T and Comcast.

In 2023, Disney began streaming Hulu series like The Handmaid’s Tale, The Bear, and Shōgun on the Disney+ app, but only for users subscribed to both platforms. As of today, the company’s Disney+ and Hulu bundle plan starts at $10.99 a month, just a dollar more than a standalone Hulu subscription.

The news also comes as Disney has been prioritizing its streaming business and has tried to catch up with Netflix. Disney said that it ended its third quarter with 183 million Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions. Netflix, which has stopped regularly reporting its subscriber numbers, said that by the end of last year it had over 300 million subscribers.

Disney also announced that its long-awaited ESPN streaming service will finally launch on August 21. The sports streamer’s unlimited plan will cost $29.99 a month and include full access to ESPN’s live TV networks and streaming exclusives.

Starting in 2026, the ESPN streamer will also be the exclusive U.S. home for all WWE premium live events, including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam.