Disney+ And Hulu Content To Combine In Standalone 'One App Experience'

It's a new and neutral territory in Disney streaming

Happy National Streaming Day! In the second-quarter earnings call for the company’s fiscal year, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced a move that wasn’t quite what everyone had been talking about but was certainly a step. A new app that combines Disney+ and Hulu content is coming, and he expects it by the end of the year.

It’s not quite a full integration of Hulu into Disney+ for American audiences, but it’s something. Both apps, as well as ESPN+, will continue to be standalone offers. Iger calls it a logical progression of the direct-to-consumer offerings that will “provide greater opportunities for advertisers, while giving bundle subscribers access to more robust and streamline content, resulting in greater audience engagement and ultimately leading to a more unified streaming experience.” More details will be shared when they are ready to. Other news about “streamlining content” is something that will be gotten to soon, and it’s not as pleasant.

Internationally, Hulu content is available on Disney+ through age gates or other services like India’s Disney Star. Disney Star losing cricket rights is a major reason for Disney+’s recent subscriber losses, which is starting to affect the offered content. The ad-supported tier for Disney+, introduced here late last year will be brought overseas, with Europe set to get it around when the new domestic app launches. Its price will also rise. Marvel’s The Runaways, a Hulu original, was made available on Disney+ on launch day back in 2019. Last year, Hulu originals Love, Victor, and The Orville were made available on Disney+ in June and August respectively, and Glee landed on both services when it came back to streaming on June 1. Black-ish and Grown-ish, shows that called Hulu their streaming home since their premieres, are currently on both services as well. The movie Flamin’ Hot, directed by Eva Longoria about the invention of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, will be released on both services on June 9. These are a few instances of Hulu content heading to the native Disney+ app.

While it might not quite be what most people envisioned, there’s always the chance it will head that way. For now, this new app is clearly intended as a fourth avenue of streaming revenue for the company that thinks it doesn’t have enough.

Source: TheWrap