Channel 4 on Disney+

On Tuesday, Channel 4 and The Walt Disney Company announced a streaming partnership on Disney+.

Channel 4, like rival public-service broadcasters, is battling a tough advertising market and declining audiences for its linear ⁠channels. It said last month it would cut about 340 jobs, representing more than a ⁠quarter of its workforce.

Priya Dogra, Chief Executive, Channel 4, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Disney+ to give audiences even more ways to discover and enjoy Channel 4’s brilliant shows. Channel 4 is home to some of the UK and Ireland’s most talked about and trusted programming, and this new service will help those shows reach viewers in new places. This exciting step shows how collaboration between broadcasters and streamers can create more choice and value for audiences.”

Disney+ already shares content with ITVX, which may be affected by Sky (owned by Comcast) buying ITV's television and streaming assets for £1.6 billion.

Adam Smith, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer, Disney Entertainment, said: “Local broadcaster partnerships are very important as we build our content libraries and serve fans around the world. Channel 4 has created shows with strong appeal to audiences in the UK and Ireland, and we’re excited to bring some of those favourites to Disney+. This agreement is the latest example of our global strategy, pairing high-quality local programming and cultural relevance with a complementary audience and more personalised streaming experience on Disney+.”

From early 2027, Disney+ subscribers will be able to watch Channel 4’s linear HD channel, plus hundreds of hours of its acclaimed scripted and unscripted content through its on-demand catalogue, from Big Mood and Tip Toe to 24 Hours in A&E, directly on Disney+ at no extra cost. There's no news on whether or not this will be ad-free on standard (which I subscribe to) or premium tiers.

What are your thoughts on Channel 4 on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.