Disney+ and Hulu Double Down on Video Podcasts Around TV Fandom

Disney+ and Hulu are expanding video podcasts beyond episode recaps, adding comedy, true crime and rewatch programmes to the same streaming experience as their television shows. The company said on September 22 that its podcast library would double over the next couple of months, with two Headgum series starting that day and further launches scheduled into November.

Best Friends, hosted by Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata, and Miles Bonsignore’s Perfect Person are streaming weekly on Disney+ and Hulu ahead of other platforms, according to the company. FX’s American Horror Story Official Podcast is due on Hulu on September 24, while Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald is scheduled to arrive October 1. The latter is a rewatch title, rather than a new season of the scripted show.

Companion programmes tied to television remain a central part of the strategy. Disney cited podcasts for Paradise, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette and Percy Jackson and the Olympians among its most viewed companion titles. It said 90% of viewers who streamed the Tell Me Lies companion podcast also watched every episode of the show’s third season. That is a company-reported overlap, not evidence that the podcast caused people to finish the series.

The shift gives viewers a clearer choice after an episode ends: continue with cast interviews or analysis inside the streaming app, or browse a standalone podcast that happens to appear alongside scripted programming. For the services, the editorial test is whether these shows work on their own, rather than merely extending promotional material.

Availability varies by title and service. Disney says video podcasts on Hulu can also be accessed through Hulu on Disney+ by US bundle subscribers. Viewers should check individual listings for regional availability and dates, especially for programmes announced for future release.