Disney+ and Channel 4 have struck a landmark UK content deal that will bring Channel 4’s linear channel to Disney+ and add a regular flow of Channel 4 shows to Disney+ in the UK and Ireland, launching early next year.

Confirmed titles include Maya, Stepping Up, and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, alongside on-demand picks like Big Mood, Tip Toe, and 24 Hours in A&E, with a full catalogue and exact launch dates to be announced.

Disney+ subscribers will access Channel 4’s live HD channel and hundreds of hours of on-demand programming via a dedicated Channel 4-branded section within Disney+.

There have been preliminary talks with the BBC about broader cooperation to share operations, as Reuters reported earlier in October 2026.

The announcement signals that more details will follow as the collaboration develops, including potential future expansions and cross-platform initiatives.

The deal raises questions about UK funding models, with discussions around a possible YouTube tax on streaming services and BBC licensing fees under consideration.

The partnership comes as Channel 4 faces advertising market challenges and a decline in linear audiences, with the broadcaster planning to cut about 340 jobs.

Described as a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the deal is expected to launch early next year, with programming synchronized to Channel 4’s broadcasting schedule.

Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra and Disney+ EMEA GM Karl Holmes say the partnership is complementary, aiming to reach broader audiences beyond Channel 4’s core viewers.

Dogra emphasizes that the collaboration will help reach new audiences while preserving Channel 4’s public service branding and services.

Dogra notes the goal of maximizing reach across the UK and Ireland by leveraging Disney+’s ecosystem, including audiences not currently using Channel 4.

The deal follows ITV’s similar Disney+ partnership in 2025, signaling a broader trend of UK broadcaster–streamer collaborations.