Disney+ adds Channel 4 broadcast and on-demand library for U.K. and Irish subscribers

The Walt Disney Co. and U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 announced a multiyear agreement to integrate the broadcaster's primary channel and on-demand library into Disney+ for customers in the U.K. and Ireland. The service is scheduled to go live in early 2027. Under the terms, Disney+ subscribers will gain access to Channel 4's linear HD channel and hundreds of hours of scripted and unscripted content without paying an additional fee.

The partnership includes a day-and-date release model for select programming. New series will appear on the streaming platform simultaneously with their broadcast debut on the traditional television channel. Initial titles confirmed for the on-demand rollout include the drama Maya starring Bella Ramsey, the comedy Stepping Up featuring Denise Welch, and the reality format Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Disney stated that the platform will feature a dedicated Channel 4 section with navigation identical to the rest of the service.

Financial details for the arrangement were not made public. Disney described the pact as one of its most significant global agreements for securing local content. The company noted that the deal builds on existing relationships with other European broadcasters, including ITV in the U.K., RAI in Italy, ARD and ZDF in Germany, SIC in Portugal, and RTVE and Atresmedia in Spain.

Karl Holmes, general manager for Disney+ in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, called the Channel 4 deal the most ambitious the company has struck in the area. He said the partnership aligns with a strategy to drive subscriber growth through local programming. Holmes noted that Disney+ subscriber counts in the region have risen by 30 percent over the last 18 months. He attributed much of that increase to content from free-to-air partners.

Priya Dogra, chief executive of Channel 4, said the move reflects changing consumer habits. She explained that audiences now use multiple platforms for entertainment. The agreement allows Channel 4 to reach viewers who may not watch the traditional linear broadcast. Dogra emphasized that the broadcaster will retain full control over its commissioning strategy while preserving its brand identity within the Disney+ interface.

Market data from BARB shows a distinct demographic gap between the two services. On Channel 4, 17 percent of viewing hours come from people aged 16 to 34. On Disney+, that figure stands at 39 percent. Holmes said the partnership aims to bring Channel 4's popular titles to Disney's younger audience base. He described the deal as a way to complement the platform's movie and Hulu general entertainment libraries with distinctive local shows.

Both executives indicated the partnership could expand beyond the current scope. Dogra said the companies already exchange a substantial amount of content, including Disney films and series like The Simpsons and This Is Us. Holmes said the teams would continue to evaluate what works best in presenting the shows. He stated that the goal is to maximize the reach of Channel 4 programming across the U.K. and Ireland.