According to Deadline, Disney boss, Bob Chapek, has hinted that a potential merger Disney Plus and Hulu in the future. Chapek aired this sentiment while speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Tech Conference.
Hulu originally belonged to multiple studios – NBC Universal, Warner Bros., Disney, and Fox. The goal was for multiple studios to work together and operate a single platform. However, Disney eventually bought the other companies out, except for NBC. Disney has the majority stake in the streaming platform at 66% and has managed Hulu since 2019. Unfortunately for Disney, it cannot take full control of the streaming service because it is partially owned by Comcast, which owns NBC Universal and serves as a silent partner.
Chapek noted that Disney will have to acquire Comcast to take full charge of the streaming service. However, it cannot do so until 2024 due to the terms of its majority acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Chapek also commented that while he wouldn't mind seeing the buyout push through sooner than the specified time, Comcast isn't on the same page. Given the growth the streaming industry is experiencing, Comcast's decision is hardly a surprise. Not to mention, the company and Disney haven't agreed on how much its 33% stake in Hulu, which is currently valued at $27.5 billion, would be worth in 2024.
