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A “one-app expertise” that mixes Disney+ and Hulu content material will launch in late 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger has introduced through the firm’s newest earnings name. He mentioned the corporate will proceed providing Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ as standalone choices, however combining companies “is a logical development” of its direct-to-consumer choices “that can present higher alternatives for advertisers, whereas giving bundle subscribers entry to extra sturdy and streamlined content material…”
Since Comcast nonetheless owns 33 % of Hulu, this announcement means that Disney could possibly be considering of shopping for the cable TV and media firm’s stake. Iger did not elaborate on the corporate’s plans, although, and solely mentioned that Disney has had “constructive” talks with Comcast about the way forward for Hulu.
Along with asserting the mixed streaming app, Iger has additionally revealed that Disney+ is getting one other value enhance after including $3 on high of its ad-free streaming tier’s month-to-month charge in December. He did not say when the corporate is elevating the service’s costs, however when it does, the ad-free and ad-supported tiers will price greater than $11 and $8, respectively.
Whereas Disney reported (PDF) a 26 % lower in working losses for its streaming enterprise, a $659 million loss remains to be huge. The value hike’s announcement did not come out of nowhere, seeing as the corporate promised buyers that the enterprise might be worthwhile by the top of the 2024 fiscal 12 months. The query is whether or not the mixed Disney+ and Hulu app might persuade new customers to pay for a subscription — or for previous subscribers to come back again. Disney+ misplaced 4 million subscribers within the first quarter of 2023 after shedding 2.4 million customers within the earlier quarter.
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