Disney has formally merged its streaming service, Disney+, with Hulu in the US. The new Hulu on Disney+ app is now rolling out to subscribers and will launch more widely in early 2024. The standalone Hulu app will remain for those who don’t want Disney.
The new app, which has adopted a Hulu-like teal color, integrates Hulu content into Disney Plus. Subscribers will see Hulu titles integrated into recommendations, sets, and collections on Disney Plus, making it easier to discover thousands of general entertainment titles without having to switch between apps.
However, to watch everything in one place, you’ll need a bundle subscription. A combined Hulu and Disney Plus with ads, known as Duo Basic, will cost $9.99 per month. To ditch commercials and add the option to download content, Duo Premium costs $19.99 per month. Adding ESPN+ to the mix will cost $14.99 or $24.99 per month. Standalone Disney Plus is $7.99 per month with ads and $13.99 without them. Standalone Hulu is $7.99 per month with ads and $17.99 per month to go ad-free.
The implementation of the combined services could use some work. Hulu is now a new tile on Disney Plus, much like Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. However, the Hulu tile will contain more varied content, which may be confusing for some users. Disney has reworked the tech behind the scenes to facilitate this merger. In the future, what you watch on Hulu or ESPN+ will affect what recommendations you get on Disney Plus. This process is still ongoing, and most of that isn’t ready today; Hulu on Disney Plus is just the start.
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