Streaming lineups are about to get a lot simpler in 2026 because Hulu will be no more.

Around October 2026, Hulu will be merged with Disney+ to become a mega streaming platform. Disney says the goal is to improve the customer experience by tailoring streaming to viewers. Some may think that this is a huge gamble that will not pay off for the company, while others believe this could spark a wave of change in the streaming industry.

Senior Professor at the Manship School of Mass Communication, Roxanne Dill, believes the bold move could prompt other streaming companies to do the same.

“Disney’s already a powerful company, you know, with a lot of people who follow, a lot of people who like their movies who are on their app,” Dill says. “

“So, if this really works out well for them and works well for Hulu, you know, on top of that, by pairing with disney, then I wonder if you see other people try to do the same thing.”

Disney has already taken some steps to fully integrate Hulu into its platform, but the finished app is expected sometime in 2026.