Hulu Is Now Part of Disney+ Bundle in the US

On March 27, Disney officially launched “Hulu on Disney+” in the US, integrating Hulu with its flagship Disney+ service. While Hulu retains its own app, it’s now integrated with Disney+, meaning a richer content library in one place. Even the Disney+ logo has been refreshed to feature Hulu’s distinctive green hue.

“Hulu on Disney+” will be accessible to Disney Bundle subscribers and those who separately subscribe to both platforms using the same email. Users can find Hulu content under a separate tile within the Disney+ app, alongside Marvel, Pixar, and National Geographic, without any price change. But it’s still exclusive to the US audience.

During the beta phase, Hulu content was intentionally kept isolated in the Hulu Hub, stated Joe Earley, Disney Entertainment’s President of Direct-to-Consumer. However, it will now be fully integrated into the homepages of Bundle subscribers, as stated in a Disney press release. This means shows and movies will also show up in search results and recommendations.

Chris Lawson, the Executive Vice President of Content Operations, revealed that Disney transferred over 100,000 pieces of content from Hulu to Disney Plus. This massive move involved a mix of Disney-owned and partner content, each with various formats and unique metadata.

Also, 16-year-old Hulu operates on an entirely different technology than 4-year-old Disney+, so this integration needed a big software update. Disney+ had to re-encode all Hulu video files to work on its platform.

According to Variety, the service doesn’t have all Hulu titles due to licensing limits. For the same reasons, ABC’s hit sitcom Modern Family and ITV reality dating show Love Island will still be unavailable on Disney+.

Live TV channels from Hulu + Live TV won’t be on Disney+ for now. However, Disney+ has the capability to stream live channels, and ESPN networks will be added in Latin America this summer, says Aaron LaBerge, the president and CTO of Disney Entertainment and ESPN.

This effort is part of Disney’s larger strategy to make its streaming services work more seamlessly together, improving everything from personalization to content recommendations. During the beta, Hulu hits such as The Bear, Shōgun, and Only Murders in the Building caught the attention of Disney+ viewers. With increased discoverability and integration on the homepage, even more people are expected to watch these shows.