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The saying is that nobody knows anything.
But let’s be honest it seems like Disney knows what it’s doing with Hulu. After teasing the possibility of selling the service, it seems likely that Disney will be keeping the streaming service. Sure, they are going to have to pay at least $9 billion for Comcast’s stake, but it seems like Hulu is here to stay.
In May, it was announced that Disney+ and Hulu would be a one-app experience for some subscribers by the end of the year. A combined Disney+ and Hulu app makes sense. The move will likely keep subscribers within the larger Disney streaming ecosystem (adding an ESPN tab is a no-brainer too). It’s just baffling that it took Bob Iger three months into his second run to realize that Disney+ & Hulu together would be a strong combination. Why didn’t he support this notion back in 2020? 2021? What changed his mind? Other than just finally realizing that it would just make a lot more sense to feature all of your premium content in one place.
On the other side of the Hulu equation, Comcast isn’t going to be a major player in the streaming wars. I think everyone knows that. Peacock doesn’t have enough to compete with the other services, and I could see Comcast pivoting its strategy and supplying streamers like Netflix, Apple, Max, and Amazon with content. Comcast acquiring Hulu doesn’t move the needle. It would just be Peacock cosplaying as Hulu. Why should Comcast waste its time and capital on that?
Despite all signs pointing to Disney buying Hulu outright, folks are going to speculate. Of course, it would be epic to see Bob Iger trade Hulu for Marvel Theme Park Rights in Florida. But that just won’t work. The whole Hulu situation has been tough for Disney but it’s becoming increasingly clear there is only one way out.
I’ve said in the past that a Disney+/Hulu/ESPN combined streamer would be a valuable service. It would be pricey but Disney could justify the price if they conveyed the content through marketing correctly. Disney will still offer the services individually but you have to wonder how long that lasts.
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Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
