Channel 4 content to stream on Disney+ in U.K. and Ireland
The deal will place the broadcaster's main channel and new series on the platform starting in early 2027 at no additional cost.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Disney+ subscriber numbers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa rose by 30 percent over the last 18 months, a metric that Disney executives say was driven in large part by local content. That strategy now includes a new agreement with U.K. broadcaster Channel 4, which will bring the channel's linear broadcast and on-demand library to Disney+ in the U.K. and Ireland starting in early 2027.
The partnership allows Disney+ customers to watch Channel 4's main HD channel and hundreds of hours of scripted and unscripted content without paying an extra fee. The on-demand section will feature a range of shows released day and date with their broadcast debut. Titles available under the deal include drama Maya, comedy Stepping Up, and reality format Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Other on-demand content will include Big Mood, Tip Toe, and 24 Hours in A&E.
Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra stated that the agreement is based on evolving consumer habits. She said the deal allows customers to access public service programming while remaining a complement to the broadcaster's own digital and linear services. Disney Entertainment chairman Adam Smith described the partnership as a method for pairing high-quality local programming with a personalized streaming experience.
Disney general manager for EMEA Karl Holmes called the deal the most ambitious collaboration the service has agreed to in the region. He noted that Channel 4's commissioning strategy is distinctive and that the partnership targets younger audiences. Data from measurement firm BARB shows that 3 percent of Channel 4 viewership hours come from people aged 4 to 15, compared with 17 percent for Disney+. The share of viewers aged 16 to 34 is 10 percent on Channel 4 versus 39 percent on Disney+.
Financial terms for the pact were not disclosed. Channel 4 has focused on a digital-first strategy to direct revenue toward British content. Dogra said the deal helps the broadcaster reach audiences that might not otherwise tune in, while preserving Channel 4 branding within the Disney+ interface.
Both executives indicated the partnership could expand to include more Disney content on Channel 4. Dogra noted that the broadcaster already licenses programming such as The Simpsons and This Is Us. Holmes said the companies would continue to discuss how the relationship evolves over the coming months.
