UK’s Channel 4 shows to launch on Disney+

Channel 4 has signed a deal with The Walt ​Disney Company to bring its shows ‌to the Disney+ streaming platform in Britain and Ireland early next year.

The collaboration ​will see many of Channel ​4’s programmes, including drama “Maya”, featuring Bella ⁠Ramsey, released on Disney+ at ​the same time as on Channel 4’s ​own platforms, the broadcaster said on Tuesday.

Channel 4’s main linear TV channel and hundreds ​of hours of its on-demand ​catalogue will also be available within a branded ‌section ⁠of Disney+, it said.

Channel 4, like rival public-service broadcasters, is battling a tough advertising market and declining audiences ​for ​its linear ⁠channels.

It said last month it would cut about ​340 jobs, representing more than ​a ⁠quarter of its workforce.

The broadcaster has held preliminary talks with the BBC ⁠about ​a tie-up of some ​operations, two sources told Reuters earlier this month.