Channel 4 and UKTV have announced an agreement that will make British content from UKTV’s U service available on Channel 4 streaming, aiming to boost the scale and reach of both companies.
The multi-year carriage agreement forms part of Channel 4’s Fast Forward strategy to become a public service streamer, marking the first time a third-party service has been carried on its platform, said the broadcaster. UKTV’s U platform will continue to operate as a standalone service.
Under the terms of the agreement, content from U, comprising U&Original titles such as Outrageous and Bergerac as well as classic BBC content and acquisitions including Red Dwarf and MasterChef Australia, will be available to Channel 4 streaming audiences from January 2026. The additions will complement Channel 4’s comprehensive and Altogether Different lineup, said the companies.
Positioning itself as the youngest-skewing streaming service, Channel 4 streaming saw a 13 per cent year-on-year increase in viewer minutes in 2024. UKTV’s VoD content across free and pay platforms saw a 40 per cent increase in viewer minutes—the fastest growing on-demand presence in Britain.
Jonathan Allan, interim CEO, Channel 4, said: “It’s fantastic that we are building on our long and successful commercial partnership with a bold new deal with UKTV to make our Channel 4 streaming proposition even stronger for viewers. Loads of brilliant British content from U will complement our own bold, noisy shows and UKTV will benefit from tapping into our younger streaming audience.”
Marcus Arthur, CEO UKTV added, “Following record viewing to our U streaming service last year, I’m delighted to be expanding our relationship with Channel 4 through this carriage deal and offering viewers even more opportunities to watch U’s rich mix of content. UKTV has a successful history of building scale through partnerships, and this exciting opportunity demonstrates the power of media companies collaborating to drive sustained growth, with clear benefits for UKTV, Channel 4 and above all viewers.”
