By: Davyn Horton
On August 6, 2025, The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger held the company’s Q3 fiscal year 2025 earnings call. Usually, these calls are a way for Iger and other company executives to report on profits and other business-related items. However, in some instances, they are used as ways to announce upcoming projects and other company initiatives. Today’s earning call was no exception to this. Major updates regarding the future of streaming, ESPN, and more, put on display for shareholders and the general public alike. All in all, it will be fascinating to see how these changes boat over with the shareholders, and the general public, as a whole. That said, Disney is going in a new direction, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Disney Plus and Hulu Will Become A Single Service In 2026
One of the major announcements from the earnings call is the fact that Disney Plus and Hulu will combine into one service, beginning in 2026. As a result, the standalone Hulu app will cease to be, allowing all Hulu content to come fully over to Disney Plus. In addition, beginning in the Fall of 2025, the international tile for international versions of Disney Plus will change from Star to Hulu. A statement on this, given by The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, reads as follows:
Today we are announcing a major step forward in strengthening our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney+. This will create an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news and industry-leading live sports content in a single app.
This news is not surprising to many in the industry. When Disney purchased Comcast’s stake in Hulu, therefore becoming sole owners, this is the outcome many saw coming. Now, with all content under one roof, strategies can come together as one, in a way that they have not been before.
ESPN Standalone Service Details
ESPN was a focal point of the presentation. On August 5th, the NFL acquired a 10% stake in the network. In exchange, ESPN takes control of NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NFL Fantasy, and more.
The next day, the launch date for ESPN’s standalone streaming service, of August 21, 2025, was revealed. With it, news came of an extraordinary partnership between The Walt Disney Comoany and WWE. Beginning in 2026, the ESPN standalone service “will be the exclusive U.S. home to WWE’s tentpole events like “WrestleMania” under a five-year deal.” In addition, select out-of-market NFL preseason games will stream on the service for the 2025 & 2026 seasons.
In terms of the pricing, the unlimited plan will cost $29.99 per month. On top of this, the currently in use ESPN Plus will now become a lower tier for the service, costing $11.99 per month. Finally, the unlimited plan will have a bundle option with Disney Plus and Hulu for $29.99 per month for the first 12 months, in what is a limited offer.
With just a couple of weeks to go, the standalone ESPN service has the sports content behind it to be successful, but the subscriber numbers and overall consume interest will tell if this venture will truly be a succes.
The Walt Disney Company Is Focused On Creating Great Movies
In regards to this, Bob Iger has this to say:
Our priority is to put our great movies that ultimately resonate with consumers. And the more we can find and develop original property, the better, of course.
He cites the live-action Lilo and Stitch and the upcoming live-action Moana film as examples of the need to still pursue established franchises. However, he also acknowledges that creating new original IP is always necessary, to keep the company going.
The Future of The Walt Disney Company
In conclusion, The Walt Disney Company is embracing the future of streaming. By combining Disney Plus and Hulu, debuting ESPN’s standalone service, and more, the future is bright. All in all, the company is embracing the future, in exciting and unique ways.