R.I.P. Hulu: Disney is phasing out the streaming app as a standalone service

Hulu started out, like many streaming services, as an ad-supported repository of TV shows and films. It had the unique benefit of three major studio co-partners in Disney, NBC, and FOX, who all committed to pushing their content to the nascent platform after first-run. This allowed it to gain immediate traction. Over time it became a subscription service and added original programming. Disney became the majority owner in 2019 when it bought 20th Century Fox, and Hulu started to be integrated into Disney+ once Disney began allowing mature content to appear on its titular app.

Though Hulu will be "fully integrated," to use Disney's phrase of choice, into Disney+ sometime in 2026, you will still be able to only pay for a Disney+ subscription or only pay for a Hulu subscription. However, Disney has offered a bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for a while now that is priced to move and to render individualized subscriptions almost impractical. 

Hulu will essentially now be branding that lives within the Disney+ app. Even if individualized subscriptions will technically be possible, one assumes Disney expects, and assuredly hopes, bundles will be the vast majority of subscribers. 

Hulu had a good run. It became the place a lot of people discovered "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" way back in the free, ad-supported days. Hulu gave us Emmy winner "The Handmaid's Tale" and possible Emmy winner "Only Murders in the Building." Soon enough, though, it will be relegated to just another tile on the Disney+ app.

(h/t Variety)