Hulu will be integrated into the Disney+ app
Following the takeover, Disney is abolishing Hulu as an independent streaming service and integrating it into Disney+. Hulu will replace the Star section.
Scene from "The Bear": The series was produced for Hulu, but was shown on Disney+ in Germany.
(Image: Disney)
Disney is cutting Hulu as an independent streaming service: the Hulu brand and content are to be integrated into the Disney+ app instead, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced at the announcement of the latest quarterly figures.
In the USA, Disney still intends to market Hulu and Disney+ as separate subscription packages, a company spokesperson told the industry magazine Variety. In markets outside the USA, the Hulu brand will replace the Star section of Disney+. How exactly this will work remains unclear for now.
Rights confusion
Hulu is a US streaming service that Disney took over completely at the end of 2023. Disney has held a majority of the shares since 2019. The entertainment company has repeatedly flirted with the idea of offering Hulu internationally. However, the international launch has never materialized. Instead, some Hulu films and series have been released on other platforms such as Disney+ without the need for an additional Hulu subscription.
One of the most successful Hulu content in recent years is “The Bear”. The series about an aspiring chef was produced by FX Networks for Hulu. Because FX content ended up on Disney+ Star in Germany, “The Bear” was available here on Disney+ at no extra cost, although Hulu does not yet exist as an independent brand.
Disney now wants to replace the Star section in the international app with a Hulu section, reports Variety. It remains to be seen whether this will result in content changes in Germany or whether Disney is just juggling different brand names here.
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Disney's Star section previously bundled content for adults. This included films and series from Hulu, but also from many other brands such as 20th Century Studios, FX Networks, and Searchlight Pictures. Disney has not revealed what will happen to this content. It is conceivable that they will be retained and will simply be found under the Hulu tab in the future. Disney has not given a timetable for the changeover.
(dahe)
