Disney is making a bold move that will reshape the streaming landscape: the standalone Hulu app is set to vanish in 2026, with all of Hulu’s content and features being fully integrated into Disney+ in the US and globally. This marks the end of an era for Hulu, one of the original streaming pioneers, and signals Disney’s ambition to create a single, powerhouse streaming destination.
Hulu and Disney+: The Big Merger
For years, Hulu and Disney+ have existed side by side, with Disney gradually increasing its control over Hulu and experimenting with bundles. In 2024, Disney began allowing subscribers to access Hulu content directly within the Disney+ app if they subscribed to both services. Now, Disney is taking the final step:
Hulu’s standalone app will be retired, and its entire library will live inside Disney+.
Disney executives say this move will deliver “an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news, and industry-leading live sports content in a single app.” The goal? To offer subscribers
more choice, convenience, and personalization than ever before.
What’s Changing for Viewers?
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One App, All Content: No more switching between Hulu and Disney+. Everything from
The Handmaid’s Tale to
The Mandalorian will be under one roof.
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New Features: Disney is promising “exciting new features and a more personalized homepage” as part of the unified app experience.
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Global Changes: Outside the US, the Hulu brand will replace “Star” as Disney’s general entertainment hub, streamlining the company’s international offerings.
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Live TV and Sports: Disney is also launching a new ESPN streaming app, offering direct-to-consumer access to ESPN’s full lineup—including the NFL Network, which ESPN will acquire for the 2025 season. Bundles with Disney+ and Hulu will be available, with a special introductory offer of
$29.99/month for the first year.
Why Is Disney Doing This?
The streaming wars are fiercer than ever, and Disney is betting that
simplicity and scale are the keys to winning. By merging Hulu and Disney+, Disney can:
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Reduce app fatigue for users juggling multiple subscriptions.
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Leverage its vast content library to keep subscribers engaged and reduce churn.
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Boost advertising and subscription revenue by offering a more compelling, all-in-one product.
Financially, Disney’s streaming segment is already showing strength. In early 2025, Disney+ added 1.4 million subscribers, even as Hulu + Live TV lost 200,000. Disney’s direct-to-consumer segment saw a
61% jump in operating income, highlighting the importance of streaming to the company’s future.
What About Hulu Originals and Pricing?
Disney has not announced any plans to discontinue Hulu originals—shows like
Only Murders in the Building and
The Bear will continue to be available, just under the Disney+ umbrella. Pricing details for the unified app are still being finalized, but Disney is expected to offer bundled deals, especially with the new ESPN streaming service.
The End of Hulu—Or a New Beginning?
For longtime Hulu fans, this is a bittersweet moment. Hulu helped define streaming TV, but its legacy will live on as part of a bigger, more ambitious Disney+ platform. As the streaming landscape consolidates, Disney is betting that
bigger really is better—and that viewers want everything in one place.
Stay tuned: the unified Disney+ and Hulu experience is set to launch in 2026, and it could change how we watch TV forever.
Sources
1. Hulu app going away with 'full' integration into Disney+
2. Hulu + Live TV Lost 200,000 Subscribers But Disney+ Added 1.4 ...
3. Hulu and Disney+ will become a single app in 2026, new ESPN app this month
4. Hulu-Disney Plus Bundle With ESPN+: Save Big on Streaming in 2025
5. Hulu To Be Phased Out as Disney Integrates Service Into Disney+
6. Disney says it is “fully integrating” Hulu into Disney+, plans to launch ...
7. 7 of the biggest Disney+ and Hulu TV show announcements from Disney Upfront 2025
8. Fubo And Disney's Hulu + Live TV Virtual MVPD Businesses To ...
9. Disney+ and Hulu Will Share a Home in 2026 But Don't Cancel ...
10. Every Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu Price Increase - Cable TV
11. Hulu is Merging with Disney+ | What This Means for Subscribers in 2025 | Streaming News | Newsdrift
12. The best live TV streaming services to cut cable in 2025 - Engadget
13. NEWS: Hulu and Disney+ CHANGES Announced for 2024 | the disney food blog
