Hulu is coming to the UK in a few weeks. The US streaming service will be baked into Disney+, replacing the Star section in its apps. The shake-up comes at no extra cost to subscribers.
If you've never heard of Hulu before, it's a US-based streaming service offering a mix of on-demand TV shows, movies, and original programming, along with live TV options through Hulu + Live TV.
It’s owned by The Walt Disney Company and blends licensed content with a growing library of Hulu Originals. Fan favourites on the streaming service include Only Murders in the Building, The Bear, and The Handmaid's Tale.
This marks the first time you'll have access to the Hulu brand in Britain, ending years of waiting for the well-known US streaming service to cross the Atlantic. When you open Disney+ after the change, you'll see Hulu alongside the familiar tiles for Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.
Your favourite programmes currently housed under Star won't disappear, including the likes of Paradise and Rivals will simply be housed under the Hulu tab. This means that instead of accessing Hulu content through a separate Star section, it will be directly integrated into the Disney+ app in the UK.
WALT DISNEY PRESS OFFICE
|Hulu will replace the Star section, but will still feature shows that are currently displayed on the Star content library
Disney has confirmed the rebrand will happen across all international markets later this year, though there's no exact date just yet. For those who still want access to shows on Star, your current Star content library will remain intact - programmes like 9-1-1, Grey's Anatomy, The Simpsons, and Family Guy will continue to be available, just under the Hulu banner instead.
The company promises you'll see "numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalised homepage" as part of the transition.
Disney executives Bob Iger and Hugh Johnston described the move as creating "an impressive package of entertainment" that combines premium brands, general entertainment, family programming, news, and live sports content in one place.
WALT DISNEY PRESS OFFICE
|Later this year, Disney+ subscribers will see Disney, Pixar, MARVEL, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Hulu as the options within the app — bringing together shows, documentaries, and films from across the various sub-brands owned by the Walt Disney company
You'll see even bigger changes in the US, where Disney plans to merge Hulu completely into Disney+ by 2026. The standalone Hulu app that Americans currently use will cease to exist, with all content moving into a unified Disney+ application.
You'll still be able to choose between different subscription options - Disney+ only or Hulu only - but everything will be accessible through the same app. The executives explained this creates "a truly differentiated streaming offering" that provides "tremendous choice, convenience, quality, and enhanced personalisation."
Disney expects this integration to boost viewer engagement, reduce cancellations and increase advertising revenue whilst creating operational efficiencies across the business.
You might wonder why Disney chose Star for the UK in the first place. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek claimed Hulu wasn't originally recognised outside the US, whilst Star supposedly had better global recognition - a decision that reportedly puzzled many British viewers who'd never heard of the brand before it launched in February 2021.
WALT DISNEY PRESS OFFICE
|Hulu has long been a staple in the US, but makes the jump over the pond for the first time in 18 years
After the autumn switch, you'll have six content sections on your Disney+ app: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Hulu.
It's possible might shift platforms – The Handmaid's Tale, for instance, was a Hulu Original in America but has also been available on Amazon Prime Video and Channel 4 in Britain — but only time will tell.