Hulu Begins Allowing Ads That Touch on Political Issues, Abandoning Longtime Policy

Mar. 15, 2025

Hulu.Photo: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty

Hulu will begin allowing political issue ads on its streaming platform, according to a statement that its parent company Disney provided to Axios.

The move comes afterDemocrats criticized Hulu for not accepting adsconcerning hot-button issues such as abortion and gun control.

In a statement to thePost, the executive directors of the three committees decried the platform’s “censorship of the truth,” which they called “outrageous, offensive, and another step down a dangerous path for our country.”

ThePostnoted that while theCommunications Actof 1934 requires broadcast networks to provide politicians equal access to the airwaves, the rule does not apply to streaming services such as Hulu.

On Wednesday, however, Disney changed its tune, telling Axios it would begin allowing ads both for political candidates and those concerning political issues on Hulu, effective immediately.

“After a thorough review of ad policies across its linear networks and streaming platforms over the last few months, Disney is now aligning Hulu’s political advertising policies to be consistent with the Company’s general entertainment and sports cable networks and ESPN+,” Disney said in its statement to Axios.

Axios reports that the change will place Hulu’s ad guidelines in line with those at Disney’s cable networks, like ESPN and FX, though ads will still be required to comply with “Disney’s general ad standards,” and the company will reserve the right “to ask clients for edits to ads or alternative creative that aligns with its standards.”

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Disney has been the subject of other political controversy in recent months due to a back-and-forth with Florida Gov.Ron DeSantisconcerning the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

source: people.com