Disney's Iger: Hulu Offers Stronger DTC Business Model

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently stated that gaining full control of Hulu is a significant step toward unlocking a new level of growth for the company. 

This follows Disney's acquisition of Comcast's 33% stake in Hulu for $438.7 million, finalized on June 9, 2025, ending a lengthy valuation process. The deal gives Disney sole ownership of the streaming platform, which Iger described as a critical move to strengthen Disney's direct-to-consumer business.

Bob Iger

Iger highlighted that Hulu's full integration into Disney's streaming ecosystem, which includes Disney+ and ESPN+, enhances content strategy and bundling capabilities. This is expected to drive long-term revenue and profitability, with Disney's streaming business already showing improvement, achieving profitability in Q2 2024 and further gains in Q1 2025. Hulu added 1.1 million subscribers in Q1 2025, reaching 54.7 million, while Disney+ gained 1.4 million subscribers, bolstered by strong content like Moana 2 and Daredevil: Born Again.

Iger emphasized that owning Hulu outright allows for deeper integration with Disney+, particularly with the upcoming launch of a standalone ESPN streaming service in fall 2025. This bundled offering (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN) is seen as a powerful proposition to cater to diverse audiences, potentially reducing churn and enhancing pricing power. Iger called streaming the "future of the television business," projecting roughly $1 billion in operating profit from Disney+ and Hulu for fiscal 2025.

The acquisition resolves a long-standing joint venture that began in 2007, which Iger noted had been hindered by competing interests among former partners like NBC and Fox. With full control, Disney can now streamline