'On Life Support': Hulu App Set to be 'Decommissioned'
Hulu is one of the most popular streaming apps available. Soon, however, the app itself will be "decommissioned."
Earlier this year, Disney announced that it would be "fully integrating" Hulu into its Disney+ service, with the "unified" app rolling out sometime in 2026. As that process moves ahead, it sounds like the Hulu app itself could cease to exist – or at least stop receiving updates and support – as early as later this year.
An Integrated App
Currently, Hulu is available as a standalone streaming app that is available only in the United States. However, Disney is changing all of that.
Back in August of last year, Disney announced that Hulu would exist as a tile on the Disney+ app, similar to how Pixar,Star Warsand others do currently. Beginning this fall, it will also replace the Star tile on Disney+ internationally after previously being a U.S.-only app.
"Today we are announcing a major step forward in strengthening our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney+," CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston said, via Variety. "This will create an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news and industry-leading live sports content in a single app."
Disney began integrating Hulu content onto the Disney+ app in 2024, but now a full integration is underway.
"Work is already underway to continue enhancing our technology, and over the coming months, we will be implementing numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalized homepage," Disney said in August of 2025. "All of this work will culminate with the unified Disney+ and Hulu streaming app experience that will be available to consumers next year."
Hulu App Set to be 'Decommissioned'
This week, Business Insider shared information from an internal Disney streaming document that outlined a multi-phased plan to bring Hulu's content and features to Disney+.
According to both the document and two streaming employees, this process is expected to be complete by the end of the year, at which point the Hulu app will be "decommissioned."
"The Hulu tech stack and app will be decommissioned after all users have transitioned" the document said via Business Insider.
More than that, it sounds like the Hulu app has stopped receiving the same level of support that it previously received.
Three high-ranking Disney tech employees told Business Insider that the company is diverting resources away from Hulu and isn't adding major new features to the app anymore as it prepares for the integration into Disney.
"Hulu is on life support at this point, with no active development," a veteran streaming product employee working on Hulu told the outlet.
Needless to say, it seems like Hulu's days are numbered, though the content will live on via Disney+.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 12:42 PM.