Disney eyes AT&T’s Hulu stake
February 28, 2019
The Walt Disney Company is said to be holding talks with AT&T with regards to acquiring its 10 per cent stake in US streaming service Hulu.
AT&T holds its 10 per cent through WarnerMedia, after the now-acquired Time Warner bought into Hulu to join other partners Disney, Fox and Comcast. AT&T could welcome a deal to help pay off its heavy debt load.
Disney’s acquisition of WarnerMedia’s stake, combined with the 30 per cent it is set to acquire through its deal with Fox, as well as the 30 per cent it already holds, would bring its control of Hulu to 70 per cent.
According to the reports, that originated in Variety, Disney’s intentions are to keep Hulu as an adult-oriented, general entertainment hub, while its forthcoming Disney+ SVoD service will complement it as a family-friendly platform. Disney would also likely seek to expand Hulu into international markets.