Disney set to acquire comcast's 33% stake in Hulu for $8.61 billion

Disney buys Hulu: Disney has commenced the acquisition process to buy Comcast's one-third stake in Hulu, solidifying Disney's complete ownership of the popular streaming service. The deal, valued at a minimum of $8.61 billion, is expected to be finalized by December 1, 2023.

This development comes as part of the 2019 agreement, where either NBCUniversal (NBCU) or Disney had the option to initiate the transaction starting November 1, 2023, a timeline accelerated from the original date set for January 2024. The transaction stems from Disney's previous acquisition of 21st Century Fox's film and television assets, giving Disney a significant competitive advantage in the ongoing streaming wars.

Disney Hulu Deal

With the acquisition, Disney gains full control over Hulu, enabling the company to seamlessly integrate it into its Disney+ streaming service. Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger had previously outlined plans to combine Hulu's general entertainment content with Disney's vast array of brands and franchises, offering subscribers an extensive streaming experience.

Hulu, a service that boasted 48.3 million subscribers at the end of Disney's third quarter, is a prized asset in the streaming landscape, surpassing the 28 million paid subscribers of Comcast's Peacock streaming service. In contrast, Disney+ continues to soar, ending its third quarter with a global subscriber base of 146.1 million.

The financial intricacies of the deal involve an assessment of Hulu's equity fair value as of September 30, 2023. If the determined value exceeds the guaranteed floor value, Disney will compensate NBCU for the difference. The assessment process, to be carried out by representatives from both parties, is expected to conclude in 2024, marking a significant milestone in Disney's streaming ambitions.

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