Mike Eakins
Imagine you’re sitting at Tom’s for a cup of coffee and Mickey Mouse, Ron Swanson, and Jake Peralta walks in. That scenario seems like it would never happen except now it can! Disney and Comcast announced today that Disney will assume full operational control of Hulu, effective immediately.
In return, Disney and Comcast entered into a “put/call” agree regarding NBCUniversal’s 33% ownership interest in Hulu. The deal puts a minimum future valuation on Hulu of $27.5 billion.
Disney hosting a press conference shocked the press by the news. Having been expected as Disney’s next strategic push into streaming and its description of Hulu as one of “three legs of the stool” along with Disney+ and ESPN+. Disney+ is set to launch in November, with a $7 price point that has immediately made it a noteworthy attempt to slow the momentum of Netflix.
“Hulu represents the best of television, with its incredible array of award-winning original content, a rich library of popular series and movies, and live TV offerings,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. “We are now able to completely integrate Hulu into our direct-to-consumer business and leverage the full power of The Walt Disney Company’s brands and creative engines to make the service even more compelling and a greater value for consumers.”
You can read more on the inner details of the acquisition on https://deadline.com/2019/05/disney-gains-control-of-hulu-in-landmark-deal-with-comcast-1202614392/
