Hulu Picks Up 300,000 Subscribers During Final Quarter of Disney’s Fiscal Year; Now at 48.5 Million
This could be the final quarter for Hulu as viewers have come to know it. Big changes could be heading the streamer’s way very soon, but until then Hulu executives can content themselves with the knowledge that the streamer added 300,000 subscribers in Disney’s fiscal fourth quarter.
That number brings Hulu’s total to 48.5 million customers, as it claimed 48.3 million overall at the end of its fiscal third quarter. Its sibling streaming service Disney+ saw a gain of 7 million subscribers. This represents a 0.41% increase over Q3 and 2.75% growth year over year.
Hulu’s live TV streaming service Hulu + Live TV saw a 300,000 customer increase from 4.3 million to 4.6M. The average monthly revenue that Disney generates per user for a Hulu subscription video on demand (SVOD) is $12.11, down 2% from $12.39 in the previous quarter. Similarly, the live service fell from $91.80 to $90.08 — also down 2%. That is noteworthy considering that generally, any linear TV provider that offers access to live football games will see increases in the fall. While Hulu + Live TV did experience subscriber growth, the fact that the average revenue per user (ARPU) decline is unexpected.
Disney’s flagship streamer Disney+ saw an impressive 7 million subscribers join the platform in Q4 to come in at 150.2 million. The company’s sports-centered streamer ESPN+ added 800,00 paying customers to hit 26 million.
Collectively — and not counting for the obvious redundancies via The Disney Bundle — the company currently has 224.7 million streaming customers.
Is Hulu One of the Biggest Streaming Platforms Available?
Hulu’s latest subscriber total places it firmly in the middle of the pack of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services based in the United States. Netflix remains the largest by far, with 247.15M global subscribers. Max is third after Disney+ and Netflix, having last reported a subscriber total of 95.8M.
Paramount+ is also ahead of Hulu with 61M users at last count, though Peacock is still firmly behind Disney’s general entertainment streamer, with only 28M customers as of the end of the third quarter. Neither Apple TV+ or Prime Video report their subscriber totals to the public.
What Was Hulu Up to This Quarter?
The reason that Hulu may undergo a major evolution in the next few months is that Disney is finally set to own 100% of the streaming platform. Disney and Comcast have agreed to terms on the sale of Comcast's 33% stake of Hulu, which will allow the company to combine Disney+ and Hulu into a one-app experience by the end of the year.
The negotiations became difficult at times, and Disney and Comcast were never able to agree on a valuation for Hulu. They brought in independent firms to help value Hulu fairly, and each company has promised to abide by the decision of those impartial third parties.
One difference that Hulu subscribers have already noticed is the new top-15 lists now available on the streamer. Starting in September, Hulu began to show customers its Top 15 Today list, which includes TV and movies and is not limited to new releases.
Another change that users found less welcome at Hulu this quarter was an increase in the subscription price of its ad-free tier. As of Oct. 12, the cost of an ad-free Hulu subscription rose from $14.99 per month to $17.99, making it more expensive than ad-free tiers of Netflix, Max and Disney+. The ad-supported Hulu plan remained at $7.99 per month.
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Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”