Disney CEO Chapek considering merging company’s Hulu and Disney+ services

WALT Disney chief executive officer Bob Chapek said he’s considering merging the Hulu streaming service with Disney+, creating a single online option for viewing the company’s movies and TV shows in the US.

The executive, speaking on Wednesday (Sep 14) at Goldman Sachs Group’s telecom and media conference, said Disney+ already offers programmes for adult viewers through its Star brand outside of the US, and the company is moving more general entertainment to the Disney+ service domestically.

Disney has had success selling Hulu and Disney+ together in a bundle at a discounted price, Chapek said. A combination of the 2 would eliminate friction consumers feel when they switch between the apps, he said.

Any merger of Hulu and Disney+ would require the company to buy out the one-third of Hulu owned by Comcast. The 2 companies have an agreement for Disney to acquire Comcast’s stake as early as 2024. Chapek said he’d like that to happen sooner.

Disney also offers the ESPN+ streaming service in the US for sports fans. BLOOMBERG