Channel 4 and UKTV today announced a multi-year carriage agreement that will offer audiences thousands of hours of free, unmissable and bingeable British content from UKTV’s U service on Channel 4 streaming.
The agreement enhances the depth and range of programming on Channel 4 streaming, while expanding further availability for the U service.
From January 2026 Channel 4 streaming audiences will be able to find hundreds of shows from the U service - including smash hit U&Original titles like Outrageous, Bergerac, Big Zuu’s Big Eats, Bangers & Cash and Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake, as well as much-loved classics from the BBC and premium acquisitions such as The Office, Red Dwarf, QI, The Count of Monte Cristo and MasterChef Australia.
These additions will complement Channel 4’s comprehensive and Altogether Different lineup including Gogglebox, The Great British Bake Off, Married at First Sight UK and 24 Hours in Police Custody, distinctive content such as The Piano and The Jury: Murder Trial, acclaimed dramas such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Patience, side-splitting comedies from Big Boys to Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping, hard hitting documentaries including To Catch A Copper, plus talked-about reality including Virgin Island.
The carriage deal, which will complement UKTV’s existing standalone U service, will mark the first time Channel 4 streaming has carried a third-party service on its platform and is a bold vision for collaboration between British media companies. It further accelerates Channel 4’s ambitious Fast Forward strategy to become a public service streamer, providing programming that drives streaming growth including drama, documentaries, comedy and reality.
The partnership is designed to boost the reach and scale of both services. It will scale Channel 4 streaming reach by expanding the choice of programming available to viewers, giving them access to a treasure trove of classic shows on U alongside a plethora of addictive originations, and allow UKTV to reach new audiences while still serving its loyal audience on its own platforms, with Channel 4 streaming the youngest-skewing commercial BVOD platform.
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.”
The deal will start in January 2026, with the U service – both catch up and boxsets – made available on Channel 4 streaming. Carriage on 4 streaming will significantly expand the footprint of U, which remains a standalone service and is available on all major connected platforms.
Channel 4 streaming saw a 13% year-on-year increase in viewer minutes in 2024 – faster growth than key international streamers (SVOD) – and remains the youngest commercial BVOD player across the first half of 2025. UKTV saw total viewer minutes to its VOD content across its free and pay platforms grow by 40%* in 2024, outstripping its competitors and resulting in UKTV having the fastest growing on demand presence in Britain.
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*Fastest growing on demand presence based on total viewer minutes to UKTV’s VOD content across pay and free based on individuals 4+ - BARB
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