It was announced that Disney has acquired the streaming platform Hulu entirely. The Walt Disney Company gained full control over Hulu by paying approximately 439 million dollars. With this acquisition, all of Hulu’s content will be integrated into Disney+.
For a long time, the two sides failed to reach an agreement due to the disagreement over the value of Hulu shares. However, Disney agreed to make an additional payment for NBCUniversal’s remaining stake in the platform. The deal will give Disney full ownership of the company and make it more versatile with the new sports-focused ESPN digital streaming service launching on the platform in Fall 2025.
Disney CEO Bob Iger has commented on the full acquisition of Hulu, saying:
“We are pleased this is finally resolved. We have had a productive partnership with NBCUniversal, and we wish them the best of luck,” and added, “Completing the Hulu acquisition paves the way for a deeper and more seamless integration of Hulu’s general entertainment content with Disney+ and, soon, with ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product, providing an unrivaled value proposition for consumers.”
However, Disney’s full control over Hulu will open the door to a new era in the company’s content strategy. In particular, the fact that the ESPN brand will be offered directly to consumers through digital broadcasts will strengthen Disney’s position in the global market.
Furthermore, Disney had signed an $8.6 billion deal to buy Comcast’s stakes in Hulu in 2019. The additional payment is for the final stage of this deal. The deal is expected to be finalized by July 24, 2025.
