Disney will soon bring major changes to how people watch Hulu and Disney+ at home. By 2026, the standalone Hulu streaming app will stop operating. Variety reports that Hulu will become part of the Disney+ platform and will only exist within the Disney+ app. Disney bought full ownership of Hulu earlier this year and has promised to combine both streaming services into one app as it moves all Hulu content under the Disney+ brand.
If customers want to watch Hulu content in the future, they will need to use Disney+. Disney’s leaders, including CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston, explained that “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.” Disney believes putting Hulu and Disney+ together will make things simpler for viewers, save money for the company, and let them offer both family-friendly shows and more mature Hulu content in one place.
The unified app should make subscriptions and account management easier. Even after the merger in 2026, people will still be able to purchase access to either Hulu or Disney+ as separate subscriptions through the new Disney+ app, although some content may be restricted by which subscription a person holds.
Internationally, the Hulu name will replace the “Star” brand on Disney+ starting this fall. This is part of Disney’s plan to use the Hulu brand for its general entertainment option in markets outside the United States.
There are several reasons why Disney is moving forward with this merger. Disney+ faced a slowdown in sign-ups last year, and more customers were looking for a broader selection of content than Disney+ alone was offering. Hulu’s collection, which includes mature shows, dramas, comedies, and reality TV, gives Disney+ the chance to appeal to a wider group of viewers. At the same time, the move will help Disney cut costs by merging both services into one technical system and by reducing the need for separate advertising and support staff.
Disney will also stop sharing detailed subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+—following a practice already used by some competitors. Meanwhile, ESPN plans to launch its own standalone streaming service that can be bundled together with Disney+ and Hulu, though it will still exist separately within the Disney+ app.
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English (US) · 