Ever open the Disney+ app and expertise cognitive dissonance when reveals like “The Handmaid’s Story” and “It’s All the time Sunny in Philadelphia” seem within the suggestions?
Effectively, anticipate extra of that sooner or later.
On Wednesday throughout Disney’s quarterly earnings name to traders, CEO Robert Iger introduced that Hulu can be totally built-in into Disney+ subsequent 12 months right into a “unified app expertise.”
This comes only a few months after Disney accomplished its deal to purchase Comcast’s share of the streaming service. The deal was first introduced in 2023 and eventually closed in June this 12 months.
Whereas the Hulu app will probably disappear, the model won’t.
Per Iger, Hulu will as an alternative function Disney’s “international normal leisure model” beginning this fall, when it can change the Star emblem that presently seems in worldwide markets.
Knock knock, Hulu’s there?
Disney had already ported Hulu’s content material over to the Disney+ app final spring, partially as a strategy to promote a cable-like bundle of each providers.
To date, the technique has labored. In line with the corporate’s Q3 earnings report (Not Q2, as a result of Disney begins their fiscal 12 months in October somewhat than January), Disney+ and Hulu gained 2.6 million extra subscribers in comparison with final quarter for a brand new complete of 183 million.
As soon as the brand new ESPN Direct launches on August 21, all three apps – whereas there are nonetheless three, after all – can be bought as a bundle for $29.99 a month for the primary 12 months. Content material from ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Firm, can even be obtainable on Disney+ the identical method that Hulu content material presently is.
Extra importantly for Disney’s streaming enterprise, all of its streaming providers can be built-in onto the identical tech stack.
Disney already sells Hulu and Disney+ promoting collectively beneath one unified advert platform, however Iger mentioned additional unifying the apps will “give our gross sales group an opportunity to bundle them much more successfully than they’ve earlier than.”
All sports activities, on a regular basis
Along with the Hulu announcement, Disney additionally mentioned some latest information associated to its upcoming ESPN streaming service.
First, the community not too long ago reached a $1.6 billion settlement for unique streaming rights to the WWE’s premium reside occasions, together with WrestleMania and SummerSlam, for the subsequent 5 years.
Yesterday, it additionally got here out that ESPN can be buying the NFL Community and RedZone channel from the NFL in trade for a ten% stake in ESPN.
As a part of the deal, ESPN will proceed to broadcast video games on linear tv however can even have streaming rights for seven extra video games that have been a part of the NFL Community’s providing.
Nonetheless, the deal received’t have a significant influence on Disney’s funds till it closes on the finish of the subsequent calendar 12 months, mentioned Senior EVP and Chief Monetary Officer Hugh Johnston.
Merge round and discover out
Talking of funds, being a consolidated international media empire does have some drawbacks.
Working example: Final 12 months, Disney accomplished a merger with Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries to mix Star India, Viacom18 and streaming platforms JioCinema and Hotstar. Now that merger is having an influence on the corporate’s backside line.
General, income grew a modest 2% 12 months over 12 months for the quarter, from $23.2 billion in 2024 to $23.7 billion in 2025.
Direct-to-consumer income, which incorporates streaming providers, elevated 6% 12 months over 12 months from $5.8 billion to $6.2 billion. That complete would have been 3% greater aside from the latest inclusion of JioHotstar (beforehand often called Disney+ Hotstar) into final 12 months’s figures.
In the meantime, linear community income decreased 15% from $2.7 billion in 2024 to $2.3 billion in 2025. Promoting income for home linear networks has additionally reportedly declined on account of decreased common viewership and decrease charges, though Disney didn’t disclose particular numbers.
Equally, an working loss with Star India brought about total sports activities income to say no 5% YOY, from $4.6 billion final 12 months to $4.3 billion.
Regardless of all these hiccups, Disney mentioned it’s nonetheless “happy” with its efficiency in Q3.
However all issues thought-about, it’s much less shocking that every one the Star logos are getting changed in every single place else.
