Quote from Alex bobby on August 8, 2025, 6:50 AM

Disney to Merge Hulu and Disney+ Into One App by 2026

Walt Disney Co. is taking a bold step to streamline its streaming business, announcing that Hulu and Disney+ will be combined into a single, unified app. CEO Bob Iger revealed the plan during the company’s latest earnings call on Wednesday, positioning the move as a way to create a richer viewing experience for subscribers while boosting revenue potential.

The integrated app — which will merge entertainment, news, and live sports under one roof — is expected to launch in 2026.

A “Unified App Experience”

“This will create an impressive package of entertainment,” Iger said, describing the new app as a destination that will combine Disney’s flagship franchises, general entertainment programming, kids’ content, news, and industry-leading live sports coverage in one place.

For Disney, this is not just about technology — it’s about creating what Iger calls a “better consumer experience.” With everything accessible through one interface, subscribers won’t have to bounce between different apps to watch their favourite Marvel movies, catch the latest FX series, or tune in to ESPN’s live coverage.

Why Disney Is Merging the Platforms

The integration follows Disney’s full acquisition of Hulu last month, when it paid Comcast’s NBCUniversal nearly $439 million to finalise the deal. Disney has managed Hulu since 2019, but until now, it has kept the services separate.

Bringing Hulu and Disney+ together is part of a broader strategy to:

• Increase convenience for subscribers by offering a single sign-in, one billing system, and a unified recommendation engine.
• Boost advertising potential by packaging ad inventory across both services, which could appeal to marketers seeking scale and diverse audience segments.
• Enhance pricing flexibility — or “price elasticity,” as Iger put it — allowing Disney to experiment with bundle deals and premium tiers without the friction of multiple apps.

The move also mirrors broader industry trends. Competitors like Warner Bros. Discovery have already merged HBO Max and Discovery+ into Max, and Paramount Global has integrated Showtime into Paramount+.

The Sports Play: ESPN Joins the Bundle

While the Hulu-Disney+ merger was the headline, Disney also unveiled plans for an enhanced ESPN app, debuting August 21. This upgraded sports platform will allow fans to watch live games, access personalised highlights, and, eventually, subscribe directly to ESPN’s full streaming service.

For $29.99 per month, viewers will be able to bundle Disney+, Hulu, and the ESPN app — a pricing move aimed squarely at cord-cutters looking for an all-in-one streaming and sports solution.

The Numbers Behind the Decision

Disney’s streaming portfolio is growing again after a rocky 2023 that saw subscriber losses. In its latest earnings report, the company reported 183 million Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions combined, a gain of 2.6 million over the previous quarter.

Streaming is also becoming more central to Disney’s overall profitability. While its legacy TV networks have faced revenue declines, the company has offset these with growth in streaming, higher theme park attendance, and merchandise sales tied to blockbuster franchises like Frozen, Avengers, and Star Wars.

Iger noted that the unified app could further unlock advertising revenue by creating a bigger, more diverse audience base. With connected TV ad spending in the U.S. expected to surpass $40 billion by 2027, Disney is positioning itself to compete aggressively in that space.

What This Means for Subscribers

For subscribers, the biggest change will be convenience. Instead of managing two separate apps, they’ll have a single hub for everything from The Mandalorian to The Handmaid’s Tale.

This could also mean:

• Simplified billing — one subscription, one price.
• Cross-platform recommendations — the algorithm will be able to suggest both Disney+ and Hulu content based on your viewing habits.
• Potentially better value — with bundling and package deals, the cost per service could be lower than paying for them separately.

However, industry watchers warn that “price elasticity” might also mean price increases for the unified service, particularly for ad-free tiers. Disney has already raised streaming prices multiple times over the past two years, following a wider industry pattern.

A Strategic Shift in Streaming

The Disney-Hulu integration is not just a product update — it’s a statement about where the streaming wars are headed. Consolidation is becoming the norm as media giants seek to reduce churn, improve user engagement, and control costs.

Disney is betting that customers will stay subscribed longer if all their entertainment needs are met in one place, particularly when that package includes premium sports — a category that retains strong live-viewership appeal even in the on-demand era.

With its library of Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Hulu Originals, plus ESPN’s sports rights, Disney is building a content offering few competitors can match.

The Road to 2026

The unified app isn’t arriving immediately — Disney is giving itself roughly two years to prepare the back-end technology, integrate content libraries, and fine-tune user experience.

In the meantime, Disney will continue to operate Hulu and Disney+ as separate platforms, with ongoing cross-promotion and bundling options for customers. The company will also roll out its enhanced ESPN app this year, setting the stage for deeper integration later.

The Bottom Line

For Disney, merging Hulu and Disney+ into a single app is as much about business efficiency as it is about consumer convenience. It’s a play to streamline operations, maximise ad revenue, and compete in an increasingly crowded streaming market.

For viewers, it could mean an easier, more unified experience — but possibly at a higher price. Either way, the 2026 launch will be one of the most closely watched developments in the streaming industry, and its success could determine how Disney navigates the next chapter of the streaming wars.

Meta Description

Walt Disney Co. will combine Hulu and Disney+ into a single streaming app by 2026, offering entertainment, news, and sports in one platform, CEO Bob Iger announced.