The drawn-out saga of Disney and Comcast’s corporate tug-of-war over Hulu has finally reached its conclusion.
After six years of wrangling, the two media giants have settled their differences, with Disney set to take full ownership of the streaming platform by July 24, 2025. The sticking point, as expected, was the price of Comcast’s 33% stake, but the companies have now struck a deal—remarkably, with minimal drama.
Comcast initially pushed for an eye-watering $5 billion on top of the $8.6 billion Disney already paid, with affiliated analysts hyping Hulu’s value to justify the premium. Disney, no stranger to high-stakes negotiations, held firm.
The dispute led to an arbitration process, where three independent bankers assessed Hulu’s worth.
Their verdict? The platform’s value exceeded the original estimate, but not by Comcast’s lofty expectations. Disney will pay an additional $438.7 million and waive Comcast’s membership fees, a relatively modest sum that lets Comcast walk away without too much fuss.
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With the deal finalized, Hulu will soon be fully under Disney’s control, marking a pivotal step in CEO Bob Iger’s long-standing vision to consolidate the company’s streaming portfolio.
This move paves the way for the launch of Disney’s much-anticipated ESPN sports streaming service this fall, completing the company’s VOD trifecta alongside Disney+ and Hulu.
For Disney, it’s a triumph of strategy and patience; for Comcast, a clean exit from a partnership that’s run its course. Mickey Mouse now reigns supreme over Hulu’s future.
