Well, this was always going to happen. Disney has finally made it official: content from Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu will all be combined onto a single unnamed app. Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed the news during yesterday’s annual earnings call. All three apps will remain individual, as well…at least for now. The plan is to begin rolling out content for the new app by year’s end.
Iger said, “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.”
“The advertising potential of this combined platform is incredibly exciting,” Iger added.
Internationally, many users are able to access Hulu and Disney+ content together already through the Star network.
Part of the reason for Disney’s decision is the recent acquisition of Comcast’s stake in Hulu.
This move happens during a turbulent time for Disney and Hollywood as a whole. The Mouse House plans to reevaluate and decrease the amount of content it releases, while removing some programs from the service. Of course, the WGA strike is happening right now, bringing any fresh projects to a halt.
For your average consumer, the only that’s really going to matter is cost. You can already get Hulu, ESPN, and Disney+ as a bundle, but will Disney ratchet up the price for this new endeavor? They’re going to keep that news close to the vest for now, and will likely time it to the release of a major project subscribers can’t do without. [THR]
