Disney's Hulu Integration: What It Means for Streamers

Disney's CEO, Bob Iger, has announced a plan to fully integrate Hulu into the Disney+ app by 2026. This integration raises questions about the future of the standalone Hulu app, as Disney aims to provide a seamless experience for users by combining catalogs, recommendations, and profiles from both services.

The decision to merge Hulu into Disney+ could potentially make Hulu's current form redundant. By unifying their streaming platforms, Disney can streamline the user experience and focus on reducing subscriber churn, which is a major concern for the company.

Reports suggest that while the phase-out of the Hulu app is likely, it hasn't been confirmed whether the standalone service will be discontinued entirely. Despite this, the integration is expected to offer a superior user experience by merging the programming assets of Disney+ and Hulu.

Disney began this integration process in March by allowing subscribers to access Hulu content within the Disney+ app. This transition required significant technological adjustments, including re-encoding video files to create a unified library.

The revamped Disney+ app, set to launch in 2026, aims to enhance profitability through increased engagement, reduced churn, and greater advertising revenue. This strategic move follows Disney's acquisition of Comcast's remaining stake in Hulu.

Despite potentially integrating Hulu into Disney+, there remains value in maintaining Hulu as an independent brand. Disney's Q3 2025 report highlighted that Hulu generates more revenue per subscriber than Disney+, suggesting that retaining Hulu might still offer financial advantages.

While the future seems to point towards a Disney+ centric model, with Hulu content possibly only accessible through Disney+, Disney is expected to carefully balance its transition to preserve its existing subscriber base.