Disney Plus Hulu Streaming Comcast Deal Peacock ESPN

Disney has officially taken full control of Hulu after agreeing to pay Comcast an additional $439 million. This closes the chapter on a long dispute between the two conglomerates, with Disney now owning the entire streaming service.

The initial acquisition saw Disney pay $8.6 billion for Comcast’s 33% stake, but disagreements over owed funds led to the need for a third-party appraiser. With this new payment, Disney can now move forward with full ownership of Hulu, a move that is expected to be finalized by July 24.

Despite the additional expense, Disney reassures investors that this will not impact their growth projections for the year. Shares in both Walt Disney Co and Comcast Corp rose slightly following the news.

Disney CEO Bob Iger expressed relief that the dispute has been resolved, highlighting the productive partnership between Disney and NBCUniversal. The acquisition of Hulu sets the stage for deeper integration of Hulu’s content with Disney+ and ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product, providing even more value to consumers.

Hulu, which first launched in 2008, boasts over 55 million subscribers and remains profitable. It offers a mix of original programming and popular shows from networks like ABC and FX. With titles like Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Hulu has solidified its place in the streaming landscape.

Meanwhile, Comcast’s Peacock stands as their primary streaming service, prioritizing sports content to drive engagement and subscriptions. This strategy seems to be working, as Peacock reported reduced losses in the first quarter and a growing subscriber base, reaching 41 million this year.

While Peacock’s growth is promising, it still trails behind streaming giants like Netflix. Disney’s full ownership of Hulu sets the stage for further growth and integration of content, signaling exciting times ahead for streaming enthusiasts.