The chaos of “FX on Hulu” is over. If I hadn’t looked closely at both platforms, I might have missed it.
When Season 5 of “The Bear” debuts on June 25, it will be FX’s first return to the Hulu series, releasing simultaneously on the linear cable channel FX and the Hulu/Disney+ streamer. While this is the most notable and publicly touted change in FX’s release strategy, the actual change began quietly in early 2026 with the Jan. 21 premiere of Ryan Murphy’s The Beauty.
Since the show’s debut, every FX-branded TV series has premiered on linear network FX or FXX at the same time it launches on Hulu. Those include FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” and “Welcome to Wrexham.” (“Love Story” had its series premiere on FX, and the first three episodes were simultaneously released on Hulu on February 3. “Wrexham” had its season 5 premiere on FXX on May 14, coinciding with the release of the first two episodes on Hulu.)
Due to simulcasting throughout the first half of 2026, all FX-branded series are submitted for Emmy consideration along with FX/Hulu programming, giving equal recognition to both linear and streaming platforms. This is expected to lead to accurate attribution when aggregating FX’s nominations, and subsequent wins.
The “FX on Hulu” branding was first created with the launch of “Devs” in March 2020. This became the first streaming exclusive series produced by FX exclusively to be viewed on Hulu.
But then FX got rid of the “FX on Hulu” branding, making it difficult to figure out where to find FX series. Some FX or FXX shows premiere on the linear channel and air on Hulu the next day. Others will premiere on Hulu and air much later on Linear FX or FXX. But some of FX’s biggest prestige bets were only available on Hulu. This led to the confusing fact that some of FX’s most popular shows couldn’t actually be found on FX.
Since Disney took ownership of FX in 2019 by acquiring the assets of 21st Century Fox, FX has evolved from a basic cable network to a multi-platform brand. Eventually, FX began to think of itself as a programming label in the vein of Marvel and Lucasfilm. Although it develops, produces, and markets its own content, it currently relies primarily on distribution on Hulu rather than the linear outlet that bears its name.
When Disney reorganized, Mr. Landgraf oversaw the brand’s programming as chairman of FX and produced programming for Hulu and the FX linear channel. But the actual day-to-day oversight of the FX linear channel falls under the purview of Disney Entertainment Television Chairman Debra O’Connell’s organization. Chuck Saftler oversees business operations for FX, ABC and Freeform.
In addition to making the FYC strategy clearer and more beneficial to both FX and Hulu, the hope within Landgraf-led FX is that it essentially mirrors the connections HBO has been able to make despite its differences with HBO and HBO Max originals. (Few people question why everything is now branded HBO/Max.) Executives hope the simulcast change will not only make it clearer to viewers where their shows are airing, but will continue to strengthen FX and Hulu’s connections with creators and talent across the industry.
Insiders note that the FX/Hulu simulcast will put both parties on equal footing and therefore equal pricing. The marketing of FX shows will also be clearer. Previously, some shows wouldn’t air on FX at all, but some would air the day before on Hulu, confusing the days and dates.
That’s all gone. One time, one date, all linear/streamed at the same time. Another example is when Season 2 of “Adult” premieres on Aug. 27 on FXX with two episodes at 9 p.m. Meanwhile, all episodes will be available simultaneously on Hulu and FXX VOD (for on-demand cable/satellite subscribers).
