Disney Completes Full Hulu Ownership With $438.7M Comcast Buyout

Disney has finalized its acquisition of Comcast's 33% stake in Hulu, granting Disney full ownership of the streaming service. The deal concluded after years of negotiations and appraisal disputes, with Disney agreeing to pay an additional $438.7 million on top of the $8.6 billion previously paid, reflecting a valuation close to the guaranteed floor price of $27.5 billion. This acquisition allows Disney to consolidate Hulu alongside Disney+ and ESPN+, enhancing its streaming portfolio and strengthening its position in the competitive U.S. streaming market. Disney CEO Bob Iger and Comcast have both issued statements regarding the deal, which is expected to close by late July 2025. By avoiding a potential $5 billion payout, Disney maintains financial discipline while advancing its digital-first strategy to attract and retain subscribers against rivals like Netflix and Amazon Prime. The move underscores a broader industry trend toward unified digital content offerings to engage global audiences.