Amid a flurry of streaming providers announcing or launching bundled services, Disney is rolling out its beta version of Hulu on Disney+, helping users enjoy content from both streaming services without having to switch between apps.

The move is a long time coming as Disney acquired a majority stake in Hulu in 2019. Now, the company appears to be moving toward a merged app designed to streamline the experience for users of both streaming services.

Available only to subscribers of the apps’ bundled package, users will see a Hulu tile appear alongside the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic tiles.

Clicking on the Hulu tile will bring users to a Hulu Hub where they can watch Hulu content via Disney+.

The company cautioned that the experience is only a limited beta version, and the official launch is slated for March 2024. The beta version, according to Disney, will help the company better understand how users view content and give parents time to set up controls to block the more adult content on Hulu.

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However, Hulu + Live TV and Premium add-ons will still only be available in the standalone Hulu app, which Disney says is not being replaced with the bundled app.

The announcement comes as several other streaming platforms have been discussing or announcing bundled offerings. Telecommunications giant Verizon announced a bundled package of Netflix and Max, and Apple and Paramount Global have reportedly been in discussions to bundle their streaming services together.

Joe Earley, Disney’s entertainment president of direct-to-consumer, says in a statement that the company wants to turn streaming into a profitable business by optimizing current offerings and improving the user experience.

“One of the things that Hulu on Disney+ is going to achieve is it’s going to increase engagement, which reduces churn,” Earley added. “When someone goes into Disney+ they have this enormous other world to access and I think that people are going to discover content they never even realized was on Hulu.”

Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ have been offered as a bundle with standalone apps since 2019 for all three or just two apps. Plan range from $9.99 a month for ad-supported versions of Disney+ and Hulu to $24.99 a month for ad-free versions of Hulu and Disney+ and the ad-supported version of ESPN+.

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