For a long time now, Disney has been running two different streaming platforms in the United States—Disney+ and Hulu. If you’re someone who’s ever felt confused about which app to open to find your favorite show or movie, you’re definitely not alone. But now, some big changes are coming. Disney is planning to finally bring Hulu into Disney+ and turn it into one big, easy-to-use streaming app.
This new move will make watching Disney-owned content much simpler for everyone. Instead of switching between two different apps, everything will be in one place. That means you’ll be able to find Disney movies, Marvel shows, general entertainment, live sports, and even news—all inside Disney+. Let’s break down what this really means, why Disney is doing it now, and how it might affect you.
What’s Happening With Hulu and Disney+
Disney recently announced that it will fully merge Hulu into Disney+. Right now, Disney owns 100% of Hulu. That means there’s nothing standing in the way of the two platforms coming together. In fact, this merger has been in the works for a while, and it looks like it will finally happen sometime next year.
Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, and Hugh Johnston, the company’s CFO, explained that the goal is to give people a complete streaming experience in one app. They want to bring together all the different kinds of shows and movies that Disney offers—from family-friendly content to grown-up entertainment and live sports. The idea is to make it all available in one single place.
The Journey to This Point
Disney didn’t just wake up one day and decide to merge Hulu into Disney+. This plan has been slowly building up over several years. In the spring of 2024, Disney even started adding a few Hulu shows into Disney+. The goal was to encourage Disney+ users to try a bundle that includes both platforms.
Things really moved forward when Disney bought out Comcast’s one-third share of Hulu in June 2025. That deal cost Disney around $9 billion. But now that Disney owns Hulu completely, they have full control over how to use it—and combining it with Disney+ seems like the next big step.
How It Works in Other Countries
If you live outside the US, you might be wondering why this is such a big deal. That’s because in countries like the UK or Brazil, there’s no separate Hulu app at all. Everything, including the content that would normally be on Hulu in the US, is already available on Disney+.
This change will bring the US closer to that same system. Instead of having two different apps, Americans will be able to access everything through Disney+. That means it’ll be easier for users and more efficient for Disney to manage.
Hulu’s Brand Isn’t Going Away
Now here’s an interesting twist. Even though Hulu is being merged into Disney+ in the US, Disney isn’t planning to completely shut down the Hulu brand. In fact, the opposite is happening. Hulu will actually expand globally.
Right now, Disney+ has something called the “Star” tile in countries outside the US. That’s where people can find general entertainment shows and movies, like those that used to be owned by Fox. But that Star section will soon be replaced with the Hulu brand. This will help Disney make Hulu its main brand for all types of general entertainment across the world.
What Happens to the Hulu App?
As for the standalone Hulu app in the US, Disney hasn’t made an official decision yet. It’s still unclear whether the app will completely disappear. Even if it doesn’t get shut down, it might become less important once all the same content is available inside Disney+.
A Disney spokesperson told Variety that people will still be able to buy separate subscriptions for Hulu and Disney+, even after the merger. That part is still a bit confusing, and we’ll probably get more clarity once everything rolls out next year.
What About Hulu With Live TV?
If you’re someone who subscribes to Hulu’s live TV service, there’s another change coming your way. That part of Hulu isn’t being moved into Disney+. Instead, it’s being moved to another streaming service called Fubo. Disney is planning to create a partnership with Fubo and will have a majority stake in this new joint venture.
So while most Hulu shows and movies will be moved over to Disney+, live TV will have its own new home at Fubo.
What Will Be Included in the New Disney+
Once the merger is complete, Disney+ will offer more than just family shows and Marvel movies. It will also include the kind of content Hulu is known for—like drama series, reality shows, adult comedy, documentaries, and even live sports.
Yes, live sports. That’s because Disney owns ESPN too. So, you can expect some live sports events to show up inside Disney+, giving subscribers more reasons to stick around. Basically, it’s going to become a one-stop shop for all your streaming needs.
What This Means for Subscribers
For regular users, this change might actually make things easier. Right now, you have to decide whether to open Hulu or Disney+ depending on what you want to watch. With everything in one place, you won’t have to worry about that anymore.
The new app will also likely offer better bundle options. If you like a mix of family content, grown-up dramas, and sports, you’ll probably be able to find a package that suits you better than before.
Why Disney Is Doing This
There are a few big reasons why Disney is going down this road. First, managing two different apps takes a lot of time and money. By bringing Hulu into Disney+, they can save money and run things more smoothly.
Second, it’s all about keeping users happy. With so many streaming services out there, people don’t want to pay for a bunch of separate subscriptions. Disney knows that combining everything into one platform makes it easier for people to stick with their service.
Finally, this move helps Disney compete with giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The more content they can offer in one place, the better chance they have of being the go-to choice for viewers.
Still Some Questions Left
Even though we know a lot about the merger, there are still some questions that don’t have clear answers yet. We don’t know the exact launch date of the new Disney+ app with Hulu built in. Disney says it’ll happen next year, but there’s no specific date for now.
We also don’t know how pricing will work. Will there be a new subscription plan? Will current users have to change anything? These are things Disney will probably explain closer to the launch date.
Final Thoughts
This big change is going to reshape how people in the US watch Disney content. Having one app for everything makes life a little easier. It also brings the US experience in line with what users in other countries already have.
While there might be some confusion at first, it looks like this is going to be a positive step forward for most users. Whether you love Disney classics, Hulu’s original dramas, or ESPN’s live sports, you’ll soon be able to find it all in one place. So, get ready—2026 might just be the year where you open one app and find everything you want to watch.
Source: The Verge
