Disney Shells Out Extra $438.7M to Complete Hulu Takeover After Years-Long Valuation Battle

When streaming wars get messy, sometimes you need a third party to settle the score. Walt DisneyDIS

has finally wrapped up its complete acquisition of Hulu after years of back-and-forth negotiations with ComcastCMCSA

, paying an extra $438.7M to secure full ownership of the streaming platform. The deal concludes a saga that began in 2019 when Disney first committed to purchasing Comcast’s 33% stake in the streaming service.

• Hulu boasts 54.7M subscribers as of Q2 and breakout shows like “The Bear” and “Only Murders in the Building,” making it a valuable asset for Disney’s streaming ecosystem.
• The final payment followed a valuation clash as Disney’s appraiser came in below Hulu’s $27.5B floor, while Comcast’s appraiser valued it “substantially in excess of the guaranteed floor value.”

Strategic streaming consolidation: CEO Bob Iger believes the completed deal paves the way for tighter integration with Disney+ and ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer launch. Comcast expressed satisfaction with the partnership’s outcome, stating, “Hulu was a great start for us in streaming that generated nearly $10B in proceeds for Comcast and created an important audience for NBCUniversal’s world-class content.” With 180.7M total streaming subscribers across its platforms, Disney’s streaming machine is set to run ahead at full speed.