Channel 4 and UKTV announce ground-breaking deal to carry UKTV’s U service on Channel 4 streaming
- Multi-year carriage agreement will boost Channel 4 streaming and U viewing with collaboration between Channel 4 and UKTV
- From January 2026, Channel 4 streaming will offer hundreds of titles from the U service, showcasing more of the best British entertainment on the country’s youngest-skewing commercial PSM streaming platform
- Channel 4 streaming viewers will have even greater choice – with award-winning and popular content from UKTV and the BBC archive spanning drama, entertainment, comedy and factual, complementing Channel 4’s lineup of noisy and distinctive programmes and films
- Agreement enhances appeal of Channel 4 streaming to advertisers, bolstering appeal to a variety of audiences
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.
ENDS
*Fastest growing on demand presence based on total viewer minutes to UKTV’s VOD content across pay and free based on individuals 4+ - BARB
For more information please contact:
Rebecca.Ferris@uktv.co.uk Corporate Communications Manager, UKTV
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love.
Its leading brands – U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, U&GOLD, U&alibi and U&eden – span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform.
UKTV’s content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media.
UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and we are committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress
About Channel 4
Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.
The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people. Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.
In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market.
From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests £10m in training, development and learning opportunities annually.
Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 43 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.