The streaming world just felt another tremor, courtesy of The Walt Disney Company. Earlier this month, Disney—led by CEO Bob Iger—finalized a major corporate maneuver that’s already affecting what fans can stream and where.
As of June 10, Disney officially owns Hulu outright after buying Comcast’s remaining share for nearly $9 billion. In the U.S., Disney+ and Hulu remain separate, but industry watchers anticipate a possible unification down the line. Internationally, the company has already embraced that model, delivering both brands’ content through a single service.
The House of Mouse faces fierce competition in a crowded streaming arena. Disney+ currently serves about 126 million users, while Hulu maintains around 53 million. With competitors like Netflix, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount+ in the mix, Disney may soon follow Netflix’s lead in withholding subscriber metrics from public reporting.
While changes to the platform structure loom, content availability remains as fluid as ever.
Disney+ users were recently given a brief taste of Hulu-exclusive content when FX’s The Bear landed on the service on June 18. The catch? It’s only available for five days. By Sunday, June 22, The Bear will be removed from Disney+, once again becoming a Hulu-only title for U.S. viewers.
The limited release doesn’t apply globally. In countries like the U.K., The Bear is already baked into Disney+ through existing platform integration.
This kind of temporary content hosting is increasingly common. Back in 2023, Iger authorized a dramatic reduction of streaming titles on Disney+ to help cut $5 billion in corporate spending. That decision drew backlash, particularly after fan-favorite projects like Willow vanished from all streaming libraries.
Few recent dramas have struck a chord like FX’s The Bear. The show stars Jeremy Allen White as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a talented chef who gives up Michelin stars to revitalize his late brother’s gritty Chicago sandwich shop. The story morphs from a gritty restaurant rescue to an introspective look at trauma, teamwork, and culinary reinvention.
The ensemble, including Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Liza Colón-Zayas, has garnered significant recognition—racking up Emmys and Golden Globes for their performances.
Created by Christopher Storer, the series has completed three critically acclaimed seasons. Season 4 is on the way and premieres June 25, 2025, on Hulu for U.S. viewers and Disney+ internationally. The cast returns alongside guest stars like Jamie Lee Curtis to continue exploring the emotional and professional chaos that comes with running a high-end kitchen under pressure.
Did you catch The Bear on Disney+ before it vanished? Drop your reactions in the comments.
