Back in December, Disney+ launched a beta version of the merger with Hulu. With this beta test, you could find Disney+ and Hulu content in a single place as a part of the Hulu beta launch inside the Disney+ app. Now, it is expected that this week, Disney will end its beta test and officially merge the apps if all goes well. Though
When the beta test started, Disney said it would run until March, when Hulu on Disney+ would become officially live. Sadly, Disney has not announced an exact date for this beta test to end.
With this launch you will only find on-demand content in the Disney+ app the Hulu + Live TV content is still exclusively in the Hulu app.
What does that mean? Will Hulu still be a standalone service? Will there be a price hike? Read on for everything we know.
NOTE: As with all beta tests, things are subject to change. Issues can come up, and this beta test could be delayed from the time he officially announced the timeline.
Everything we know about Hulu and Disney+ merging apps:
In May 2023, Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, announced plans to merge the Hulu and Disney+ apps into a single app. Each platform will be its own service within the single app. ESPN+ has long been included in Hulu bundles, with all three options included in one of Hulu’s bundles since 2020. Iger is striving to increase revenue by seizing a unique advertising opportunity through the development of a single app hosting all three services.
The app will start as a beta and be fully released in March of 2024.
Disney has said that Hulu + Live TV will remain its own independent app and only the on-demand content will merge into Disney+.
What will happen to Hulu after the merger?
For now, ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ will continue to be offered as individual subscriptions. Now though Disney+ will also offer Hulu’s on-demand catalog in its app if you subscribe to both services.
“While we continue to offer Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ as standalone options, this is a logical progression of our DTC offerings that will provide greater opportunities for advertisers, while giving bundle subscribers access to more robust and streamlined content, resulting in greater audience engagement and ultimately leading to a more unified streaming experience,” CEO Bob Iger said when the merger was announced.
Also the Wall Street Journal reported that not only will this merger happen later this year, but in March of 2024 a new bundle deal of Hulu and Disney+ content will launch. The deal was originally meant to launch when the apps merged, but because of delays, Disney won’t launch it until March 2024. Disney is hoping that this new bundle will help drive as many as 150,000 new subscribers and generate millions in revenue.
It is unknown how this will be different from the current bundles. Though Disney has a lot of options, one option some have speculated could be a bundle with live channels from Hulu + Live TV that won’t include ESPN+.
All things can change; however, it appears that Hulu and Disney+ will be their own services even after Disney buys 100% of Hulu.
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