Disney+ to Integrate Channel 4 Broadcasts and Library in U.K. and Ireland

Disney+ will stream Channel 4’s main broadcast channel and on-demand library to subscribers in the U.K. and Ireland beginning in early 2027.

The Walt Disney Co. and Channel 4 announced a partnership that integrates the public broadcaster’s linear HD channel into the Disney+ app. Users will not pay extra for access. The service will include a Channel 4-branded section that mirrors the navigation and user experience of the rest of the platform.

The deal includes a day-and-date release of multiple new Channel 4 shows on Disney+ each year. Initial titles include the drama Maya, starring Bella Ramsey, the comedy Stepping Up with Denise Welch, and the reality format Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. The on-demand catalog will also hold hundreds of hours of scripted and unscripted content, such as Big Mood, Tip Toe, and 24 Hours in A&E.

This agreement follows similar contracts Disney+ signed with European broadcasters. Those partners include ITV in the U.K., RAI in Italy, ARD and ZDF in Germany, SIC in Portugal, and RTVE and Atresmedia in Spain. Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro has positioned the streamer as the digital centerpiece of the company. Karl Holmes, general manager for Disney+ EMEA, noted that free-to-air channels still hold the largest audiences and production budgets in Europe. He said the company licenses content both to and from these broadcasters.

Channel 4 is pursuing a digital-first strategy under the theme owning our future. CEO Priya Dogra stated that audience habits are shifting toward multiple platforms. She explained that the partnership allows Channel 4 to meet those evolving habits while keeping its owned and operated services as the home for the majority of its programming. The broadcaster’s commissioning strategy remains under its control.

Holmes described the Channel 4 deal as the most ambitious agreement in the EMEA region. He cited a 30 percent increase in Disney+ subscribers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa over the last 18 months. He attributed that growth to local originals and content from free-to-air partners. Data from U.K. measurement firm BARB shows a demographic mismatch between the two platforms. Channel 4 viewership is 63 percent from people aged 55 and older. Disney+ viewership for that age group is 11 percent. In contrast, 17 percent of Disney+ users are aged 4 to 15, compared with 3 percent on Channel 4. Holmes said the deal brings Channel 4’s biggest shows to a younger audience in a premium environment.

Dogra said the partnership reaches viewers who might not normally tune into Channel 4. She emphasized that preserving Channel 4 branding alongside the programming was a priority. Holmes noted that local broadcaster partnerships are central to building content libraries. He said the agreement pairs high-quality local programming with a complementary audience for a more personalized streaming experience.

The companies did not disclose financial terms for the pact. Dogra said her team expects the partnership to inform future commissioning strategies based on audience response. She noted that Disney content, including The Simpsons and This Is Us, is already licensed to Channel 4. Holmes said he looks forward to evolving the relationship into a wider partnership. Both executives plan to refine how they present the shows on Disney+ as they gather more data on what works.

Further details on launch timing and specific content availability will be announced later. The integration will launch in the U.K. and Ireland in early 2027.