In this photo, the Disney+ logo is apparent on the smartphone screen.
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The package is back.
Disney AND Warner Bros. Discovery plan to offer their streaming services – Disney+, Hulu and Max – in a package that mirrors time-honored cable TV, the companies said Wednesday.
The latest version of the suite, which will be available this summer, will be offered in both ad-supported and ad-free versions. The price has not yet been revealed, but the option will be offered at a discount, according to a person familiar with the matter.
She added that Disney would essentially act as a distributor in this case, collecting subscription fees from subscribers and paying Warner Bros. Discovery a certain percentage.
This combination of Max, Disney+ and Hulu will give streaming subscribers access to a wide range of content from the ABC and Fox broadcast networks, as well as cable networks including TNT, TBS, CNN, Discovery Channel, Food Network, Disney Channel and more. Fox, which does not have its own entertainment streaming subscription service, licenses its content to Hulu.
The offering, which is reminiscent of a cable TV package that has been turned upside down in recent years and continues to hemorrhage customers at a rapid rate, is the latest partnership between the two media giants in recent months.
Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney’s ESPN, as well Fox Company., have also teamed up to offer a sports streaming service, which is scheduled to launch this fall.
Earlier Wednesday, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said during an earnings call that he believed the sports streaming venture would likely be tied to other entertainment streaming services.
Disney has been offering its streaming services – Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ – in a bundle for some time now. ESPN+ will continue to co-exist with the sports streaming venture, but will not be included in the Warner Bros. package. Discovery and Disney. Hulu content was recently integrated into Disney+, although it still requires separate subscriptions.
Max costs $9.99 per month with ads or $15.99 without ads. Disney+’s basic tier with ads costs $7.99 per month – or bundled with Hulu, $9.99 per month – while its premium plan costs $13.99 per month, or $19.99 with Hulu. Meanwhile, Hulu itself costs $7.99 with ads or $17.99 without ads.
