After months of beta testing, Disney has rolled out a revised version of its streaming service, Disney+, which now includes content from Hulu.
In a press release, The Walt Disney Company announced it has merged Hulu and Disney+ into one library, but only in the United States. Disney even fused the Hulu green in the Disney+ logo to illustrate the point, which you can see in the GIF below. The logo is still Disney+, but instead of the blue background, it merges the Hulu green into a blueish, almost teal-esque color.
Those who have an active subscription to the Disney Bundle can now watch content from both libraries directly on the Disney+ app. For example, you could watch Hulu hits like Shogun and The Bear and then turn around and watch Toy Story 2 and X-Men '97 without having to exit the Disney+ app. Yet, the Hulu website and app versions, like the iOS or Firestick versions, still exist and are functional.
As with other Disney-owned properties such as Marvel and Pixar, the revised Disney+ app has a Hulu tile, where users can easily access the content library from that specific service. Disney notes that those who have just a Disney+ subscription can access the Hulu content by upgrading to the bundle, which would cost "only $2 per month more."
"The collective power of Disney+ and Hulu - outstanding originals from the most powerful brands and studios in the industry, libraries filled with decades of iconic favorites, and industry-leading advertising and technological capabilities - is transformative," Disney Entertainment President of Direct-to-Consumer Joe Earley said. "Today's official launch of Hulu on Disney+ gives viewers even more opportunities to easily discover and enjoy thousands of titles all in one place, underscoring the extraordinary value of the Disney Bundle."
The move is a long time coming for Disney. It was announced late last year that the Entertainment conglomerate was buying the remaining 33% stake in Hulu from Comcast to become the sole owner of the streaming service. Disney became the majority stakeholder of Hulu in 2019 following its acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
In IGN's 2023 update review of Disney+, we wrote: "Disney+ is doing a good job at widening its scope with documentaries, programming from its other banners, and, interestingly, concert films, but its ad-free tier has almost doubled in price since 2019."
