Disney+ and Hulu subscribers will soon be able to watch more content in the Disney+ app without having to switch between platforms.as type The “one-app experience” will launch later in 2023, the report said.
Disney CEO Bob Iger said the move marked a “logical progression” for the company, which owns a majority stake in Hulu (Comcast has a minority stake). House of Mouse already offers a discounted Disney+ and Hulu bundle for $9.99 per month, but subscribers currently have to watch content from both services on separate apps. It also offers Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundles for $12.99 per month with ads and $19.99 without ads. The companies will still offer separate packages for each streaming service.
Disney fans may need to hold their breath to get excited about the streamlined approach.according to deadline, the company intends to remove some content from its premium service and take an impairment charge of $150 million to $1.8 billion. The streamer also plans to produce less content. Chief Financial Officer Christina McCarthy announced the plan as part of Disney’s cost-cutting strategy, but did not specify which games might leave Disney+.
That cost-cutting likely explains another change Iger announced: the price increase for Disney+ as a standalone service. Its ad-supported plan currently costs $7.99 per month, while its ad-free plan costs $10.99 per month. Iger did not provide an estimate for the new price.