In this photo illustration, the Disney+ logo is seen on the screen of a smartphone.
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The package has returned.
disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are planning to offer their streaming services (Disney+, Hulu and Max) in a package that mirrors the traditional cable TV package, the companies said Wednesday.
The latest version of the package, which will be available this summer, will be offered in both the ad-supported and ad-free tier. Pricing has not yet been revealed, but the option will be offered at a discount, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Disney will essentially act as a distributor in this case, collecting subscription fees from subscribers and paying a percentage to Warner Bros. Discovery, the person added.
This combination of Max, Disney+ and Hulu will give streaming subscribers access to a wide range of content from the ABC and Fox broadcast networks, as well as cable networks including TNT, TBS, CNN, Discovery Channel, Food Network, Disney Channel and more. Fox, which does not have its own entertainment streaming subscription service, licenses its content to Hulu.
The offering, reminiscent of the cable TV package that has changed radically in recent years and continues to hemorrhage customers at a rapid pace, is the latest partnership between the two media giants in recent months.
Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney's ESPN, along with Fox Corporation., have also joined forces to offer a sports streaming service, expected to launch this fall.
Earlier on Wednesday, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said on an earnings call that he thought the sports streaming company would likely combine with other entertainment streaming services.
Disney has been offering its streaming services (Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+) as a bundle for some time now. ESPN+ will continue to coexist with the sports streaming company, but it is not included in the Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney package. Hulu content has also recently been integrated into the Disney+ platform, although both still require separate subscriptions.
Max costs $9.99 a month with ads, or $15.99 without. Disney+'s basic tier with ads costs $7.99 per month, or included with Hulu, $9.99 per month, while its premium plan costs $13.99 per month, or $19.99 with Hulu. Meanwhile, Hulu on its own costs $7.99 with ads, or $17.99 without ads.
