Disney to pay $439 millon to fully own Hulu

Reuters

Disney will pay Comcast’s NBCUniversal nearly $439 million to buy the remaining stake in streaming service Hulu, gaining full control.

The deal ends a long appraisal process. In November 2023, Disney agreed to buy Comcast’s 33% share in Hulu for at least $8.6 billion, based on a guaranteed minimum value of $27.5 billion for Hulu.

Disney has managed Hulu since 2019, when Comcast stepped back and became a silent partner.

Hulu launched in 2007 as a platform for TV shows from major entertainment companies. Disney joined in 2009, adding content from ABC, ESPN, and Disney Channel. In 2019, Disney took majority control after acquiring 21st Century Fox.

After disagreements on Hulu’s value, a third appraiser decided the final price would be $438.7 million.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said that the deal clears the way to better integrate Hulu with Disney+ and ESPN’s streaming service, offering more value to customers.

The deal is expected to close by 24 July and won’t affect Disney’s 2025 earnings forecast.

Disney’s shares rose slightly after the announcement.

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