One Platform To Rule Them All: Disney Completes Hulu Takeover and Prepares for Full Integration

Disney has big plans for Hulu and its platform.

Disney's strategic buyout of Hulu was finalized in June 2025. However, the iconic media conglomerate announced its plans to integrate Hulu fully into the platform during its most recent Q3 earnings call on August 6, 2025. 

While Hulu will remain a standalone app well into 2026, Disney is actively building a unified Disney Plus app experience that will include a dedicated Hulu tile within the new interface.

The primary goal is to house all of Hulu's content — even Hulu + Live TV (although the timeline for live TV is more ambiguous) — within the Disney Plus app, eliminating the need for a separate Hulu app. While this will phase out the Hulu app, the Hulu tile will live on and remain as a core feature in the future appearance of the Disney Plus UI.

From Buyout to One App: Disney’s Hulu Integration Takeaways and Roadmap

• Disney finalized its full buyout of Hulu in June 2025, acquiring the remaining 33% stake from Comcast.
• Complete integration plans were announced on August 6, 2025 during Disney's Q3 earnings call.
• A unified Disney Plus app is launching in 2026, combining Hulu and Disney Plus content under one platform.
• The Hulu app will remain available through at least 2026, but is expected to be phased out over time.
• A dedicated Hulu tile will live inside the Disney Plus interface, providing full access to Hulu Originals and library content.
• Internationally, Hulu will replace the Star tile on Disney Plus starting in fall 2025 (the Star tile is the appearance for the app within international markets).
• Live TV integration (Hulu + Live TV) may follow later, though no specific timeline has been confirmed.

From Buyout to One App: Disney’s Hulu Stake Acquisition Timeline

Disney has been working to acquire full ownership of Hulu since before 2019. That timeline accelerated significantly over the past 6 years, culminating in Disney becoming the sole owner of Hulu as of June 2025.

Disney's Integration of Hulu Means Consolidation and Convenience for the Consumer

Disney's full buyout and integration of Hulu will provide a streamlined, consolidated experience for consumers who are fans of both streaming platforms and have bundled packages. Instead of shifting between multiple apps, subscribers will be able to access Hulu content within the Disney Plus app, reducing any possible friction felt by watchers. 

While we will see the standalone Hulu app well into 2026, expect a unified app on the horizon that offers even stronger competition against Netflix, Max, and Prime Video.