The combination, which the company began testing last year, is designed to make the experience more convenient for customers and to increase Disney+ streaming subscriptions.
Walt Disney completed the addition of Hulu on Wednesdayits streaming service aimed at the general public, to the Disney+ family platform, putting titles like “The Bear” and “American Horror Story” in the same app as “Moana” and “Frozen.”
The combination, which the company began testing last year, is designed to make the experience more convenient for customers and to increase Disney+ streaming subscriptions as cable TV usage declines.
Thousands of Hulu movies and TV shows will appear alongside Disney programming in the Disney+ app and in search results. Subscribers who have not yet paid for a Disney+ package will be prompted to add Hulu for $2 more per month.
Parental control settings will allow subscribers to restrict access to more mature Hulu content on children’s profiles, Disney executives said.
Disney’s streaming television unit has been losing money since Disney+ launched in November 2019. Chief Executive Bob Iger has said the business will turn a profit this year.
The media giant is under pressure from activist investors who criticize the company for investing billions in its direct-to-consumer business but falling behind industry leader Netflix.
As of December 2023, Disney+ had almost 150 million subscribers worldwide and Hulu had nearly 50 million.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
