FX series is now premiering on both Cable and Hulu
The confusion about “FX on Hulu” is over – you might have missed it if you weren’t properly tuned into both platforms.
When Season 5 of “The Bear” debuts on June 25, it will be the first returning FX on Hulu series to appear simultaneously on the linear cable channel FX and the Hulu/Disney+ streamers. This will be the most noticeable and outwardly promoted change in release strategy for FX programming, but the shift actually began quietly in early 2026 with the Jan. 21 premiere of Ryan Murphy’s “The Beauty.”
Since that show debuted, all FX-branded TV series have premiered simultaneously on the linear networks FX or FXX while launching on Hulu. That includes FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” and “Welcome to Wrexham.” (“Love Story” had its series premiere on FX and showed the first three episodes simultaneously on Hulu on February 3. “Wrexham” aired its season 5 premiere on May 14 on FXX when it released the first two episodes on Hulu.)
With the simulcast now underway through the first half of 2026, all FX-branded series have been submitted for Emmy Award consideration as FX/Hulu shows, with equal credit given to both the linear and streaming platforms. The hope is that this will lead to accurate attribution when it comes time to add up FX noms – and subsequent wins.
The “FX on Hulu” brand was first created with the launch of “Devs” in March 2020, which marked the first exclusive streaming series produced by FX and available to watch exclusively on Hulu.
But then FX dropped the “FX on Hulu” brand, and it was difficult to figure out where to find the FX series. Some FX or FXX shows premiered on the linear channel and aired on Hulu the next day. Others would premiere on Hulu and air on linear FX or FXX at a much later date. But several of FX’s biggest prestige bets could only be watched on Hulu, creating the confusing fact that some of FX’s most visible shows weren’t actually on FX.
Since Disney took ownership of FX when it acquired 21st Century Fox assets in 2019, FX has evolved from a basic cable network to a multiplatform brand. Eventually, FX came to think of itself more as a programming label along the lines of Marvel and Lucasfilm – developing, producing and marketing its own content, but now primarily dependent on Hulu’s distribution rather than the linear outlet that also happens to bear its name.
As Disney reorganized, Landgraf, as FX chairman, oversaw the brand’s programming — as it produced fare for Hulu and the linear FX channel. But the actual day-to-day oversight of the linear FX channels falls under Disney Entertainment Television Chairman Debra O’Connell; Chuck Saftler oversees the operations of FX, ABC and Freeform.
Furthermore, the FYC strategy is becoming clearer – and more beneficial to both FX and Hulu – and the internal hope at Landgraf-led FX is essentially a reflection of the distinction but connection that HBO was able to realize with HBO and HBO Max originals. (Few doubt that it’s all still branded “HBO/Max.”) Leadership hopes this simulcast change will give viewers clarity about where shows air, but also continue to strengthen FX and Hulu’s connection to creatives and talent across the industry.
By choosing an FX/Hulu simulcast, insiders note that this ensures equal billing as they are now on equal footing. It also makes the marketing for FX shows much clearer. While some shows previously didn’t air on FX at all, those that did aired a day before Hulu, causing confusion over the day and date.
That’s all gone: one time, one date, all linear/streaming at the same time. Another example is when Season 2 of “Adults” premieres on August 27 with two episodes at 9pm on FXX – with all episodes appearing simultaneously on Hulu and FXX VOD (for cable/satellite subscribers who have on-demand).
