DISNEY is making some huge changes to its streamed TV offering with a new brand coming to the UK for the first time.
And the entertainment giant is also planning to axe one of its apps amid the shake-up.
2
2
Hulu will be the new name for Star, the destination for non-Disney grown up movies and major TV series like The Bear and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
The Hulu brand has been around for years across the pond in the US.
Disney has been running Hulu and Disney+ as two separate apps over there but they’re set to be merged next year.
This will mean the end of Hulu as a standalone streaming app.
However, the brand will live on within Disney as a section, much like it will in the UK when it replaces Star.
US viewers will still be able to pay for separate Hulu and Disney+ subscriptions as they do currently.
“Today, we’re announcing a major step in enhancing our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney Plus,” Disney CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston said during the company’s quarterly earnings call.
“This will deliver a powerful entertainment package — combining top-tier brands and franchises, general entertainment, family programming, news, and industry-leading live sports — all within a single app.”
Hulu is expected to replace Star outside of the US in the autumn.
This will mean the six content channels available to watch on Disney+ in the UK will be:
- Disney
- Pixar
- Marvel
- Star Wars
- National Geographic
- Hulu
But that’s not the only big news Disney had today, as the firm also revealed it will show LALIGA matches in the UK and Ireland from next week.
Customers can catch Saturday night LALIGA action live on Disney+ as part of their existing subscription.
Meanwhile, Premier Sports will air all other matches, with more than 340 per season.
HOW TO GET DISNEY+ FREE
You can currently get Disney+ free for up to a year if you buy an Uber One subscription.
Uber One is the ride-hailing app’s paid perk which unlocks discounts for travel and takeaways.
It costs £49.99 for a year.
And at the moment they’re throwing in access to Disney+ Standard for a year on top, which usually costs £89.80 alone.
Image credit: Alamy
