Channel 4 has struck a multi-year carriage agreement that will see content from UKTV’s U streaming service play on Channel 4’s streaming platform.
The carriage deal will mark the first time Channel 4 streaming has carried a third-party service on its platform. UKTV is owned by BBC Studios.
The collaboration between the two broadcasters will broaden the range of programming on Channel 4 streaming to sell advertising against, while promoting U to Channel 4’s traditionally younger audience. U will remain a standalone service.
Shows from the U service to play on Channel 4 streaming include originals such Outrageous, Bergerac, Big Zuu’s Big Eats, Bangers & Cash and Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake, as well as classics from the BBC and acquisitions such as The Office, Red Dwarf, QI, The Count of Monte Cristo and MasterChef Australia.
The tie-up comes as the UK’s public service broadcasters attempt to step up their collaboration to compete more effectively against deep-pocketed US streaming giants, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.
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, said: “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.”
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