Hulu set to keep existing as standalone streaming service and app (for now)

In a recent statement, Disney has reassured subscribers that it has no current intentions to discontinue Hulu as a separate streaming service or app. This announcement comes from a representative who clarified that despite owning Hulu entirely since June 2025, the company will continue to provide subscriptions for the platform in the United States. The spokesperson emphasized, "There are no current plans to sunset the Hulu app." Following Disney's acquisition of the remaining third of Hulu from Comcast last year, speculation arose regarding the potential phasing out of the app by 2026. However, today's confirmation means that Hulu users can maintain their subscriptions without needing to transition to Disney+ for the foreseeable future. This is particularly positive news for those subscribed to Hulu + Live TV, which offers broadcast channels and additional content from networks like Cinemax and Showtime—features that Disney+ currently lacks but plans to introduce later. In addition to maintaining Hulu's standalone service, Disney is actively working on integrating Hulu and Disney+ into a unified technology platform. As part of this initiative, users will soon see a dedicated Hulu tile within the Disney+ app starting in March 2024, allowing for easier access to Hulu's content. Furthermore, Hulu users can search for their favorite shows through Disney+ and see their recently watched content in the Disney+ “Continue Watching” section. Notably, accessing Hulu content via the Disney+ app only requires a Hulu subscription and a “MyDisney” login, eliminating the need for a Disney+ subscription. This integration aims to streamline the user experience across both platforms. The effort involves significant technical upgrades, including the migration of over 100,000 individual assets and a comprehensive re-encoding of Hulu’s video files to establish a master library that includes Disney+ content.