Channel 4 Moves Entire U.K. and Ireland Broadcast to Disney+ for Free in 2027

Disney+ will host the entire Channel 4 linear broadcast channel for viewers in the U.K. and Ireland starting in early 2027. The partnership, described by the two companies as a landmark agreement, marks the first time a major European public broadcaster has fully integrated its live signal and on-demand library into a global streaming service.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, the arrangement grants Disney+ customers access to Channel 4’s main high-definition channel without an additional fee. Subscribers will also receive a dedicated, Channel 4-branded section within the Disney+ app. This section will contain hundreds of hours of scripted and unscripted content, including series such as Big Mood, Tip Toe, and 24 Hours in A&E.

The agreement ensures that new Channel 4 programs will air day and date on Disney+ as they premiere on the broadcast channel. Titles confirmed for the launch window include the drama Maya, starring Bella Ramsey, the comedy Stepping Up, featuring Denise Welch, and the reality format Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Future releases will follow the same simultaneous release model.

Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra stated that the move is designed to adapt to changing viewer habits. She noted that audiences are increasingly using multiple platforms to find content. “Channel 4 needs to transform to meet those evolving habits,” Dogra said. She added that the partnership complements the broadcaster’s owned and operated linear and digital services rather than replacing them.

Karl Holmes, general manager for Disney+ in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, identified local content as a primary driver for the platform’s recent growth. Disney+ subscribers in the EMEA region rose by 30 percent over the last 18 months. Holmes attributed this increase partly to the integration of local originals and free-to-air partner content.

“We think that the next wave of our growth is going to be driven in large part by local,” Holmes said. He characterized the Channel 4 deal as the most ambitious collaboration Disney+ has agreed to in the region. The streamer aims to use the partnership to introduce Channel 4’s high-profile programming to its younger audience base.

Data from U.K. measurement firm BARB illustrates the demographic difference between the two platforms. On Channel 4, 63 percent of viewing hours come from audiences aged 55 and older. In contrast, 39 percent of Disney+ viewing hours come from people aged 16 to 34, and 21 percent from those aged 35 to 44. Only 3 percent of Channel 4 viewers are aged 4 to 15, compared with 17 percent on Disney+.

Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro has positioned Disney+ as the digital centerpiece of the company’s strategy. Adam Smith, chairman of direct-to-consumer at Disney Entertainment, said the partnership pairs local cultural relevance with a global streaming experience. “Local broadcaster partnerships are very important as we build our content libraries,” Smith said.

The deal builds on previous agreements Disney+ has struck with other European broadcasters, including ITV in the U.K., RAI in Italy, and ARD and ZDF in Germany. Dogra said the Channel 4 branding will be preserved within the Disney+ interface. Both executives indicated that the partnership may expand to include further content exchanges in the future.

Dogra emphasized that the core Channel 4 services will remain the home for the majority of its programming. “It’s important to say that our owned and operated services.. still remain very important,” she said. The companies plan to announce further details regarding the specific launch date and initial content lineup in the coming months.