Disney and Hulu are joining forces with another major streamer in the fight to dominate the streaming landscape, which is slowly but surely becoming a retread of the cable channel era. However, unlike most mergers, customers will likely not notice an immediate difference in their streaming experience. It’s been announced that Disney is merging Hulu with Fubo, a live television streaming service. Per the official press release, the Fubo and Hulu + Live TV merger will house “nearly 6 million subscribers in North America,” rivaling YouTube TV. Interestingly enough, both platforms will remain separate as their own services, as the partnership only seems to affect the business and financial as Disney now owns a 70% stake in the new company. Fubo CEO David Gandler released the following statement to celebrate the announcement.
“Since Fubo’s founding a decade ago, our vision has always been to build a consumer-first streaming platform defined by innovation and value. Together with Disney, we’re creating a more flexible streaming ecosystem that gives consumers greater choice, while driving profitability and sustainable growth.”
The latest attempt by Disney to acquire more real estate in the streaming wars comes after it announced that Disney+ would now house Hulu on its streaming platform. Hulu (with ads) is now offered in a bundle alongside Disney for $12.99 a month, in addition to the bigger combo deal that includes HBO Max that starts at $19.99 a month. Hulu + Live is an additional cost that amounts to $89.99 a month in total, while Fubo itself starts at $84.99 a month. YouTube TV, which dominates that live TV streaming arena, cost $82.99 per month. While YouTube TV does not include platforms like Disney+, Hulu or HBO, it is still among the most popular subscription services on the market, and it is clear why Disney wants to compete against it.
Apple TV Also Recently Merged With Another Major Streamer

Apple TV

Soon after a subtle but significant rebrand, Apple TV announced that they were bundling up with another major streamer in order to rise up in the streaming landscape. An Apple TV and Peacock streaming bundle is now available for customers as of October 20. The combo deal starts at $14.99 for Apple TV and Peacock Premium, while those that want Peacock Premium Plus will be able to do so at $19.99. Matt Strauss, Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, previously described the bundle as the “perfect combination of entertainment,” as each streaming library provides a vastly different set of TV shows and films.
“There is no more perfect combination of entertainment than the Apple TV and Peacock Bundle, with our complementary content portfolios featuring the best shows, movies, sports, and live events. With this first-of-its-kind initiative with Apple, we’re redefining what the customer journey should be for a streaming bundle with rich sampling and a smooth sign-up process, and we’re broadening the reach of Peacock to even more audiences.”
Additionally, those who are not sure about the new bundle will be able to watch free episodes of Slow Horses, Silo, and Foundation on Peacock, while Apple TV users can watch early episodes of Law & Order, Bel-Air, Twisted Metal free of cost. While the streaming wars continue to rage on, it seems customers will be able to enjoy the fruits of low-cost bundles, but like the cable era, it might be only a matter of time when that changes, too.