• by Wayne Friedman , May 8, 2024

On the eve of the TV and streaming upfront advertising market -- with streaming consolidation rumors in the air -- Walt Disney Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced a new streaming bundle packaging Disney’s Disney+ and Hulu platforms with WBD’s Max streamer.

This will house content from linear TV networks and brands including ABC, CNN, DC Comics, Discovery, Disney, Food Network, FX, HBO, HGTV, Hulu, Marvel, Pixar, Searchlight, and  Warner Bros.

The new streaming bundle will be available for purchase on any of the three streaming platform’s existing websites -- both as ad-supported and ad-free plans. 

Disney+ has 54 million domestic (U.S./Canada) subscribers, with Hulu at 50.2 million. Max has 97.7 million global subscribers.

This comes just after news, in recent weeks, that Disney+ would be putting Hulu on the Disney+ platform, with a streaming access ‘tile’ .

It also comes as Walt Disney, WBD, and Fox Corp. have announced other bundling plans -- creating a big sports-focused streamer to launch in the fall of 2024. The unnamed as yet platform will combine sports content from all these companies' sports-minded TV networks onto one new streamer.

Analysts believe the maturation of the streaming/connected TV marketplace will push financially pressed streaming platforms to combine in ever bigger services -- amassing must-have entertainment platforms -- as consumers look for cost savings, as well as hoping to curtail volatility of cancellation “churn”.  

The companies say further details will be coming in the next few months.