Disney and Comcast’s Hulu Dance Shows Bundle Isn’t Dead Yet
The Magic Kingdom could offer a cordless combo platter, but its cord-loving rival stands in the way.
Who thought viewers would ever miss cable?
Photographer: Michael Nagle/BloombergIn a short time, consumers have switched from saying “Destroy the cable TV bundle!” to “OK, we kind of miss the bundle.” This has presented Walt Disney Co. with a lucrative opportunity: create its own rival bundle of video apps. The irony is that to make it happen, Disney needs the cooperation of Comcast Corp., the biggest U.S. cable provider and one of its fiercest competitors.
Both companies share ownership of Hulu, a video-streaming platform akin to Netflix. Disney is the majority owner and Comcast has a 30 percent stake. CNBC reported on Thursday that Comcast is considering selling that stake to Disney and that the two have held talks, but it’s not a sure thing yet. Working out a deal is a crucial step for Disney CEO Bob Iger in rounding out his streaming strategy.