36氪·2025-06-17 13:30Core Viewpoint - Disney's acquisition of Hulu's remaining 33% stake positions it to challenge Netflix's dominance in the streaming market, with a combined user base that narrows the gap significantly [3][4][20]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Disney announced the acquisition of Hulu's remaining stake for approximately $438.7 million, set to be completed by July 24, 2025 [3]. - The total investment in Hulu has exceeded $9 billion, including a previous $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, which gave Disney a 67% stake in Hulu [4][17]. - Hulu's user base has grown from 25 million in 2019 to approximately 54.7 million by the second quarter of 2025, indicating significant growth potential [4][19]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Disney's streaming segment, including Hulu, achieved a profit of $47 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, a notable improvement from a loss of over $500 million in the same period the previous year [8][24]. - Despite this progress, Disney's profitability still lags behind Netflix, which reported a net profit of approximately $2.89 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, highlighting a significant earnings gap [8][9]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - The merger of Hulu and Disney+ is expected to create a "super content library," potentially capturing 24.6% of the U.S. subscription video on demand (SVOD) market, surpassing Netflix's 16.6% [6]. - Disney's CEO Bob Iger emphasized the importance of integrating Hulu with Disney+ to enhance user experience and maximize content value [6][25]. - The competitive landscape suggests that Disney's focus on integrating its streaming services could lead to a more robust offering compared to traditional media companies facing user growth and profitability challenges [26][27].