Disney has carried out the latest move in its plans to modernize its digital entertainment options. This has been done by adding Hulu as the general entertainment brand on its app for international markets. How does this work, and what does the future hold for Disney fans?
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The Most Recent Change
The change has seen Star removed from Disney+ around the world, replaced by Hulu. It’s not happening yet in the US, though, as the plan is to bring Hulu into the Disney offering there in 2026. This movie is designed to ensure that the company offers its subscribers a unified streaming platform that’s easy to use.
This switch was carried out on October 8. However, it’s worth pointing out that the full Hulu catalog won’t be made available to Disney+ subscribers. The reason for this is that some of the platform’s shows and movies are licensed by Disney for showing in the US, but can’t be streamed by users elsewhere.
Those users who already use Hulu will need to switch to Disney+, since there will no longer be a standalone Hulu app. This brand will be absorbed into the Disney package and will be shown as a separate tab on the app.
More About Hulu
If you haven’t tried Hulu yet, you might be interested in seeing where it comes from. This brand was created in 2007 as a partnership between NBC Universal and News Corporation. It started as a free platform supported by ads, but became a subscription service in 2010. It grew to over 53 million subscribers earlier this year, adding new users, while Disney’s numbers dropped at the same time.
Operational control of Hulu was passed to the Walt Disney Company in 2019, with the attempts to buy out the platform dragging on since then. Disney bought a 33% stake in Hulu in 2023, before the deal to purchase Comcast’s share was finally completed this year, giving Disney sole ownership of Hulu.
The platform has classic movies such as Alien and John Wick, as well as newer releases. It also includes the original Robocop as well as Robocop 2 and Robocop 3. This franchise has also entered the online casino world, showing us how strong brands can exist in different types of entertainment at the same time. Robocop Cash Collect by Playtech is one of the themed slots offered, with the movie’s main characters used as symbols. The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad have also made the move to casino slots, revealing how more franchises could expand in this way.
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What Comes Next?
This is the next step on the path to a fully integrated Disney+ app experience in 2026. As well as Hulu shows being added, we’ll start to see design and navigation enhancements that make it easier to use. For the moment, a For You tab has been added at the top of the home screen. Depending on the location and subscription in force, users might also see Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN listed on different tabs.
