In what appears to be a replication of the traditional cable TV package, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced their intention to combine their streaming services. The summer will see the integration of Disney+, Hulu, and Max into one comprehensive bundle available on ad-supported and ad-free platforms. Although the details about the pricing are still under wraps, sources confirm that the package will be available at a below regular price.
Disney will function as the intermediary in this arrangement by handling subscription fees from their customer base and allocating a proportionate percentage to Warner Bros. Discovery.
This unique blend of Max, Disney+, and Hulu broadens the content envelope for streaming subscribers with a diverse range of offerings from broadcast networks like ABC and Fox, plus cable networks like TNT, TBS, CNN, Discovery Channel, Food Network, and Disney Channel, among others. Since Fox doesn’t have a personal entertainment streaming service, it has opted to license its content on Hulu.
This joint venture is reminiscent of the cable TV bundle that has seen drastic shifts in recent years, with customers veering away in favor of more flexible streaming options. It’s not the first collaborative action between these two media behemoths. Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney’s ESPN, as well as Fox Corp., have already pooled forces to create a sports-streaming service set to launch this autumn.
Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch has hinted at the possibility of the sports-streaming service being bundled with other entertainment streaming services.
Disney has been bundling its streaming services — specifically Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ — for a while. The incoming Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney bundle won’t include ESPN+, which will continue to operate separately. The recently integrated Hulu content into the Disney+ platform also requires separate subscriptions.
Current prices for the individual services include Max at $9.99 a month with ads or $15.99 without, while Disney+’s ad tier is $7.99 per month—which increases to $9.99 if bundled with Hulu. The premium plan, including Hulu, comes at $19.99. Hulu alone charges $7.99 with ads and $17.99 without.
