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Disney+ and Hulu Merging Into Single App, Beta Coming in December

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Disney today said that it will soon combine Disney+ and Hulu into one streaming service, with a unified app to be available in a beta capacity next month.

disney.jpg

Disney CEO Bob Iger first announced plans to merge Hulu and Disney+ into a single app earlier this year. The app will first be offered to those who subscribe to the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, providing those customers with one app to access all their content. Right now, Disney offers a combined bundle that features Disney+ and Hulu, but subscribers need to download two separate apps. Pricing for the app has not been announced, but the current ad-supported Hulu and Disney+ bundle costs $9.99 per month, while the version without ads costs $19.99 per month.

During today's fourth quarter earnings call, Iger confirmed that Disney is on track to roll out the unified app in the United States starting in December, with an official launch to follow in spring 2024.

Disney earlier this month said that it will pay Comcast over $8 billion to purchase Comcast's Hulu shares, which would see Disney being the sole owner of Hulu and will allow for the combined app.

Disney in October increased the price of both Disney+ and Hulu in an effort to bring in more revenue. Ad-free Disney+ is now priced at $13.99 per month, while ad-free Hulu costs $17.99 per month.

Article Link: Disney+ and Hulu Merging Into Single App, Beta Coming in December
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/08/disney-plus-hulu-combo-app-2/
Bring on those higher prices! Clearly consumers will just pay anything. Maybe double pricing but then bill 3 times each month so it can be spun to look like lower payments (in spite of more of them)?

Call this "special introductory pricing" to create the illusion of a deal, then end the introductory period by doubling the price again but billing 6 times each month to keep each payment the same. Geniu$!

And why don't you switch from fixed pricing to variable, with maybe 2 choices to foster an illusion of consumer choice/control: $AYH* and/or $HMYG** pricing? Shareholders should rejoice. ;)

*All You Have
**How Much You Got?
 
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Just another way to prevent people from sharing accounts since now the two stream limit will be enforced across both services through a single app. With a family I can see that being an issue with multiple kids wanting to use Disney while the ‘rents are watching Hulu.
 
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mnsportsgeek said:
Guessing it’s just wishful thinking that this will end up being cheaper.
Click to expand...
That’s a good one. They’ll do whatever they need to do to recoup the $8B ASAP, but then leave the recoup pricing in place afterwards to fatten the margin, happily ever after. Like the whole new toll road game, it’s a well proven way to fatten a revenue stream forever.

And remember when we wanted ala carte to put it to big cable? As these streamers consolidate into ever bigger entities, big cable is reforming… EXCEPT former big cable who is also big broadband have made up for cord cutting losses to streamers in broadband price hikes & caps.

Rhetorical: who can project the end game? Hint: 💰💰💰
 
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The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger was on CNBC earlier today and said bundling will be a $2/month option, which could be a deal if you already subscribe to both separately. Although, it was kind of an off the cuff comment, he's normally careful about what he says, but the pricing may not be set in stone.
 
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rick3000 said:
The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger was on CNBC earlier today and said bundling will be a $2/month option, which could be a deal if you already subscribe to both separately. Although, it was kind of an off the cuff comment, he's normally careful about what he says, but the pricing may not be set in stone.
Click to expand...
you can bundle for $2 now
 
Ugh. I was dreading this. I like the D+ app and hate (though it’s gotten better) the Hulu app. I’m also curious what this will mean for the ATV app. Almost nothing plays in DV on the Hulu app, but most things do in the D+ app.
 
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Rounder077 said:
Ehhhh....we're pretty much going back to cable, aren't we?
Click to expand...
Yep, except new “cable” will get the old cable bundle revenue while ”old cable” charges more for broadband to support all this new, heavier demand “such as video streaming”.

Maybe the latter can tighten broadband caps next to fatten broadband revenue too? I mean, who needs ANY smelly, dirty money? Give it all to the few and let the “survival of the fittest” consolidation wars among the 1% roar until just one Supreme Emperor rules all, owns all. Let the poor, starving multitudes eat cake. 🎉🎉
 
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Why don’t they just combine this all into one big package and have a dedicated cable to deliver it to said subscribers.

Provide them a free box to decode the sent content and have it like a phone contract, yearly subscription.

It makes so much sense.

They could even incorporate commercial breaks and have different tiers… like number of streamlining channels.
 
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Already was merged in Australia, well Australia never had Hulu in the first place. 140 dollarydoos a year, boy you better hope they don’t end password sharing..
 
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Here's the price hack for US subscribers. Many American Express cards (not the super expensive Platinum card that includes $240/year credit toward Disney subscriptions) offer $7/month credit toward Disney Bundle.

This brings the price of Disney Bundle Duo Basic (ad-supported) from $9.99 to $2.99 and Duo Premium (no-ads) from $19.99 to $12.99. You can also use the Trio plans.

This promo also works for solo Disney+, ESPN+, or Hulu plan that costs at least $9.99/month -- Disney+ Premium at $13.99 (to $6.99), ESPN+ at $10.99 (to $3.99), or Hulu (no-ads) at $17.99 (to $10.99).

DO NOT apply this promo toward the annual plan as the $7 discount will only apply once.
 
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MacRumors said:


Disney today said that it will soon combine Disney+ and Hulu into one streaming service, with a unified app to be available in a beta capacity next month.

disney.jpg

Disney CEO Bob Iger first announced plans to merge Hulu and Disney+ into a single app earlier this year. The app will first be offered to those who subscribe to the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, providing those customers with one app to access all their content. Right now, Disney offers a combined bundle that features Disney+ and Hulu, but subscribers need to download two separate apps. Pricing for the app has not been announced, but the current ad-supported Hulu and Disney+ bundle costs $9.99 per month, while the version without ads costs $19.99 per month.

During today's fourth quarter earnings call, Iger confirmed that Disney is on track to roll out the unified app in the United States starting in December, with an official launch to follow in spring 2024.

Disney earlier this month said that it will pay Comcast over $8 billion to purchase Comcast's Hulu shares, which would see Disney being the sole owner of Hulu and will allow for the combined app.

Disney in October increased the price of both Disney+ and Hulu in an effort to bring in more revenue. Ad-free Disney+ is now priced at $13.99 per month, while ad-free Hulu costs $17.99 per month.

Article Link: Disney+ and Hulu Merging Into Single App, Beta Coming in December
Click to expand...
I don’t understand the value of the beta designation since I have used the same Disney+ app in Europe that I use in the US and Hulu content is already exposed when you’re using it in Europe ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
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orbital~debris said:
Eh, predict there will be a lot of doom-mongering on this,

but… honestly…

It will all be fine! It’s how we have it in the UK & Europe already. The parental controls are effective and the content is nicely presented.
Click to expand...
My family uses Disney+ a lot, and has no use for Hulu. In such a scenario, is the Hulu content not shown (best case) or at least clearly marked? I don’t want to browse content, select something, only to be hit with an upsell.
 
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