Disney has introduced plans to mix content material from its Disney+ and Hulu streaming companies within the US.

The transfer comes after Disney+ misplaced 4 million subscribers within the first three months of the 12 months, and the agency is below stress to make its streaming enterprise worthwhile.

The house of Mickey Mouse, Star Wars and Marvel motion pictures intends to hyperlink Hulu and Disney+ right into a “one-app expertise”.

Plans for the app have met with a combined response from present subscribers.

Some voiced fears on social media that it could result in increased subscription charges when it goes dwell on the finish of the 12 months.

Nevertheless, the corporate mentioned that Disney+ and Hulu, in addition to its ESPN+ platform, would additionally proceed to be out there as standalone companies.

Hulu, collectively owned by Disney and NBCUniversal, is understood for tv reveals pitched at adults, corresponding to The Handmaid’s Story.

Disney chief government Bob Iger informed traders on Wednesday that he has had “cordial” talks with NBC’s father or mother firm, Comcast, about taking full management when the present possession settlement expires subsequent 12 months.

“I can’t actually say the place they find yourself, solely to say that there appears to be actual worth in having normal leisure mixed with Disney+,” Mr Iger mentioned. “If finally Hulu is that answer, we’re bullish about that.”

Since returning to Disney final 12 months, Mr Iger has been centered on bettering the agency’s monetary efficiency – particularly at Disney+.

Losses on the streaming enterprise have been $659m within the first three months of the 12 months, down from $1.1bn within the earlier quarter.

However the fall in subscribers was greater than anticipated, sending shares within the firm down about 5% in after-hours buying and selling in New York.

A lot of the losses got here from its Hotstar service in Asia, which misplaced streaming rights to Indian cricket matches final 12 months.

Disney+ additionally misplaced round 300,000 prospects within the US and Canada after elevating subscription costs.

Mr Iger mentioned the improved monetary efficiency mirrored “the strategic modifications we’ve been making all through the corporate to realign Disney for sustained progress and success.”

He beforehand mentioned Disney+ had reached a “turning level” and would turn out to be worthwhile by subsequent 12 months.

Earlier this 12 months, the leisure big reported its first fall in streaming subscriber numbers and introduced plans to chop 7,000 jobs.

The most recent announcement comes after 1000’s of Hollywood TV and film screenwriters held their first strike in 15 years final week.

They’re calling for higher pay and dealing situations because the transition to streaming has upended the standard tv and movie business.

The final writers’ strike was in 2007. It lasted 100 days and value the business an estimated $2bn.

On Wednesday, Disney’s chief monetary officer Christine McCarthy declined to place a determine on how a lot the newest strike may price the corporate.

The walkout has already shut down a number of Disney tasks, together with these set to run on Disney+.

Disney has poured billions of {dollars} into its streaming platforms in recent times, remodeling it from an organization rooted in conventional tv, motion pictures and theme parks into one of many streaming business’s main gamers.

It now has a complete of greater than 231 million subscriptions throughout its three streaming platforms, which additionally embody the sports-focused ESPN+ and wider leisure web site Hulu.

Disney+ has near 158m subscribers around the globe, though that’s nonetheless behind rival Netflix’s 232.5m subscribers.