Disney has introduced plans to mix content material from its Disney+ and Hulu streaming providers within the US.

The transfer comes after Disney+ misplaced 4 million subscribers within the first three months of the yr, and the agency is beneath strain to make its streaming enterprise worthwhile.

The house of Mickey Mouse, Star Wars and Marvel films intends to hyperlink Hulu and Disney+ right into a “one-app expertise”.

Plans for the app have met with a blended response from present subscribers.

Some voiced fears on social media that it will result in greater subscription charges when it goes reside on the finish of the yr.

Nevertheless, the corporate stated that Disney+ and Hulu, in addition to its ESPN+ platform, would additionally proceed to be accessible as standalone providers.

Hulu, collectively owned by Disney and NBCUniversal, is understood for tv reveals pitched at adults, resembling The Handmaid’s Story.

Disney chief govt Bob Iger advised buyers on Wednesday that he has had “cordial” talks with NBC’s father or mother firm, Comcast, about taking full management when the present possession settlement expires subsequent yr.

“I can’t actually say the place they find yourself, solely to say that there appears to be actual worth in having normal leisure mixed with Disney+,” Mr Iger stated. “If finally Hulu is that resolution, we’re bullish about that.”

Since returning to Disney final yr, Mr Iger has been targeted on bettering the agency’s monetary efficiency – particularly at Disney+.

Losses on the streaming enterprise have been $659m within the first three months of the yr, down from $1.1bn within the earlier quarter.

However the fall in subscribers was greater than anticipated, sending shares within the firm down about 5% in after-hours buying and selling in New York.

A lot of the losses got here from its Hotstar service in Asia, which misplaced streaming rights to Indian cricket matches final yr.

Disney+ additionally misplaced round 300,000 prospects within the US and Canada after elevating subscription costs.

Mr Iger stated the improved monetary efficiency mirrored “the strategic modifications we’ve been making all through the corporate to realign Disney for sustained development and success.”

He beforehand stated Disney+ had reached a “turning level” and would turn out to be worthwhile by subsequent yr.

Earlier this yr, the leisure large reported its first fall in streaming subscriber numbers and introduced plans to chop 7,000 jobs.

The newest announcement comes after hundreds of Hollywood TV and film screenwriters held their first strike in 15 years final week.

They’re calling for higher pay and dealing circumstances because the transition to streaming has upended the standard tv and movie business.

The final writers’ strike was in 2007. It lasted 100 days and price the business an estimated $2bn.

On Wednesday, Disney’s chief monetary officer Christine McCarthy declined to place a determine on how a lot the most recent strike may price the corporate.

The walkout has already shut down a number of Disney tasks, together with these set to run on Disney+.

Disney has poured billions of {dollars} into its streaming platforms in recent times, remodeling it from an organization rooted in conventional tv, films and theme parks into one of many streaming business’s main gamers.

It now has a complete of greater than 231 million subscriptions throughout its three streaming platforms, which additionally embrace the sports-focused ESPN+ and wider leisure website Hulu.

Disney+ has near 158m subscribers all over the world, though that’s nonetheless behind rival Netflix’s 232.5m subscribers.