Disney+ and Hulu will merge right into a single app later this 12 months

A “one-app expertise” that mixes Disney+ and Hulu content material will launch in late 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger has introduced through the firm’s latest earnings call. He said the corporate will proceed providing Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ as standalone choices, however combining companies “is a logical development” of its direct-to-consumer choices “that may present higher alternatives for advertisers, whereas giving bundle subscribers entry to extra strong and streamlined content material…”

Since Comcast nonetheless owns 33 p.c of Hulu, this announcement means that Disney might be pondering of shopping for the cable TV and media firm’s stake. Iger did not elaborate on the corporate’s plans, although, and solely stated that Disney has had “constructive” talks with Comcast about the way forward for Hulu.

Along with saying the mixed streaming app, Iger has additionally revealed that Disney+ is getting one other worth enhance after adding $3 on prime of its ad-free streaming tier’s month-to-month charge in December. He did not say when the corporate is elevating the service’s costs, however when it does, the ad-free and ad-supported tiers will price greater than $11 and $8, respectively.

Whereas Disney reported (PDF) a 26 p.c lower in working losses for its streaming enterprise, a $659 million loss continues to be huge. The value hike’s announcement did not come out of nowhere, seeing as the corporate promised buyers that the enterprise shall be worthwhile by the tip of the 2024 fiscal 12 months. The query is whether or not the mixed Disney+ and Hulu app might persuade new customers to pay for a subscription — or for previous subscribers to return again. Disney+ misplaced 4 million subscribers within the first quarter of 2023 after shedding 2.4 million customers within the earlier quarter.

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