Hulu and Disney+ Unite in One Streaming App: What You Need to Know

Disney's Streaming Strategy Takes a Major Turn

Disney is making significant changes to its streaming landscape, with Hulu set to become an integral part of the Disney+ experience. In a recent executive commentary, the company announced that it will fully integrate Hulu into Disney+, creating a unified app that is expected to launch in 2026. This move marks a major step forward for Disney’s streaming offerings, aiming to provide users with a more comprehensive entertainment experience.

CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston emphasized that this integration will combine the best of both platforms, offering a wide range of content including top-tier brands, family programming, news, and live sports. The executives stated that this new approach will deliver greater choice, convenience, quality, and personalization to subscribers.

Hulu has had a complex ownership history, but recently, Comcast sold its remaining stake in the platform, giving Disney full control. This shift allows Disney to take the lead in Hulu’s international expansion, with plans to replace the Star tile on Disney+ in global markets starting in the fall. Additionally, the company is investing heavily in technology and app enhancements, including a redesigned homepage for Disney+.

At the end of Disney’s third quarter of 2025, the combined subscriptions for Disney+ and Hulu reached 183 million, up by 2.6 million from the previous quarter. Disney+ alone saw an increase of 1.8 million subscriptions, driven largely by international growth. Looking ahead, Disney projects over 10 million new subscriptions in the fourth quarter, largely due to Hulu’s expanded reach through a recent deal with Charter. The company also expects operating income of $1.3 billion for its streaming business in 2025.

As part of this transformation, Disney will stop reporting paid subscriber counts and average revenue per user (ARPU) for ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu by the start of its 2026 fiscal year. This change mirrors a similar move by Netflix, which ceased reporting quarterly subscriber numbers earlier in 2025, instead focusing on major milestones.

The announcement comes shortly after another major development involving Disney. ESPN agreed to acquire the NFL's media assets in exchange for a 10% equity stake in the sports network. Additionally, ESPN is launching a new standalone streaming service on August 21, priced at $29.99 per month. This service will allow fans to access the entire channel lineup without needing a cable subscription.

Other competitors are also entering the streaming space. Fox is launching its new Fox One app on the same day, offering live and on-demand access to its full lineup of content for $19.99 per month. Meanwhile, Roku is targeting budget-conscious consumers with its new service called Howdy, priced at $2.99 per month. Howdy promises ad-free access to thousands of popular titles from companies like FilmRise, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

In a separate move, Peacock is raising its monthly prices by $3, marking the largest increase since its launch in 2020. These developments highlight the ongoing competition among streaming services as they strive to capture and retain a growing audience.