UKTV’s U service has officially landed on Channel 4 streaming today, three months after the deal was first announced – bringing hundreds of shows including BBC classics, UKTV originals, and premium acquisitions to Channel 4 viewers.
It’s the culmination of a partnership that promised to make Channel 4 streaming a more comprehensive destination for British television, with titles like Red Dwarf, The Office, and QI now available through the platform.
Though if you’re hoping to binge the entire run of Red Dwarf, you might be disappointed – only the first two series appear to be available on Channel 4 for now, rather than the complete collection that’s accessible through U’s own service.
Whether more series will follow remains to be seen, but it’s a reminder that even when streaming services partner up, you don’t always get everything in one place.
The partnership represents another step in the ongoing reshuffling of British streaming services, as broadcasters continue trying to figure out whether collaboration or competition serves them better.
What’s Actually Available?
According to Channel 4’s announcement, viewers now have access to “thousands of hours” of content from U, including British classics like The Office, QI XL, Would I Lie To You?, and Birds of a Feather, alongside newer fare such as Big Zuu’s Big Eats, Outrageous, and David Mitchell’s Outsiders.
Crime dramas feature heavily in the mix, with shows like Bergerac, Spooks, The Chelsea Detective, Whitstable Pearl, and Marlow Murder Club all making the journey from U to Channel 4 streaming.
Additional titles include MasterChef Australia and documentary programmes including Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over and Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake.
Channel 4 has promised that “even more U content” will arrive in the coming weeks, though they haven’t specified exactly what or when.
That gradual rollout might explain why Red Dwarf has only turned up with two series so far, rather than the complete collection available on U’s own platform.
The Streaming Shuffle Continues
When this deal was first announced three months ago, it felt like another chapter in the ongoing saga of British broadcasters trying to work out how to survive in a streaming world dominated by American giants.
Remember BritBox? That joint venture was supposed to unite the best of British television under one banner. Instead, it gradually morphed into ITVX Premium after ITV bought out the BBC’s stake, leaving us with BBC archive content scattered across multiple platforms.
Now we’ve got U content (also owned by the BBC) available both on its own standalone service and through Channel 4 streaming.
ITVX Premium carries old BritBox content alongside Disney+ shows. Channel 5’s streaming service includes some Paramount+ bonuses.
It’s not exactly the unified British streaming front that might have challenged Netflix, but it’s not complete fragmentation either.
Instead, we’re getting something messier – overlapping partnerships and carriage agreements that make the same content available in multiple places.
Channel 4’s Interim CEO Jonathan Allan positioned today’s launch as making things easier for viewers: “Bringing UKTV’s much-loved shows together with Channel 4’s award-winning programmes means more fantastic choice for everyone. Viewers can expect us to continue making it easier to enjoy the programmes they love.”
UKTV’s CEO Marcus Arthur echoed the collaboration angle: “With our U service now also available on Channel 4 streaming, UKTV’s popular and award-winning shows can reach new audiences and Channel 4 viewers get even more choice.”
The question is whether having the same content available across multiple platforms actually makes things easier, or just more confusing.
The Channel 4 Plus Angle
One tangible benefit for some viewers could be Channel 4 Plus, the £3.99 monthly subscription that removes adverts from Channel 4 streaming.
U’s service is free but ad-supported, so if U’s content on Channel 4 is also included in the ad-free tier, subscribing to Channel 4 Plus would be more appealing than using U’s standalone app for those who want to watch without adverts.
We’ve reached out to Channel 4 to confirm whether U’s content is included in Channel 4 Plus and are waiting to hear back.
That would be particularly relevant given how intrusive streaming adverts can be on free services, at times. One viewer commented on our original article about trying to watch Bergerac on U and having the same advert play six times during a single break, ruining the experience.
Channel 4 Plus costs less than ITVX Premium (£5.99 monthly) and would give you access to both Channel 4’s own programming and a substantial chunk of U’s catalogue.
What About The Rest?
The deal was originally described as including “the majority” of U’s content, which always left some wiggle room about what wouldn’t make the cut.
U’s catalogue includes not just British originals and BBC archive content, but also American acquisitions like Parks & Recreation and Prison Break.
These will likely not be a part of U’s content on Channel 4, as they usually have separate licensing agreements – but then again, MasterChef Australia IS included – so maybe we’ll get some surprises.
The gradual rollout of content over the coming weeks suggests Channel 4 and UKTV are testing the waters rather than dumping everything onto the platform at once.
Red Dwarf’s Journey
Red Dwarf has become something of a poster child for the complexity of British streaming. The cult sci-fi sitcom, which follows the misadventures of Dave Lister and his oddball crew three million years into deep space, started life on BBC Two back in 1988.
It was available on BBC iPlayer, was later added to U (and previously to UKTV Play), and now appears on Channel 4’s streaming service. For a show about being lost in space, the fact that it’s bouncing between streaming services feels oddly appropriate.
The catch is that only Series 1 and 2 are currently on Channel 4 streaming, whilst U (and BBC iPlayer) carry the complete run, including the later Dave-era revivals.
Looking Ahead
Channel 4’s streaming service saw a 13% year-on-year increase in viewer minutes during 2024, whilst UKTV’s on-demand viewing grew by 40%.
Those are impressive numbers, but they’re still dwarfed by the international streaming giants these British broadcasters are competing against.
Partnerships like this one represent a pragmatic approach to that challenge. Rather than trying to out-Netflix Netflix by building massive standalone services, British broadcasters are experimenting with collaboration and content-sharing that might give them collective strength.
Whether it works depends largely on execution. If U’s content gradually appears across Channel 4 streaming in a comprehensive and logical way, giving viewers one less app to juggle, that’s a genuine improvement.
If it turns into a confusing mess where you never quite know which platform has which series of which show, it’ll just add to the frustration.
How To Watch
U’s content is now available through Channel 4 streaming on most Smart TVs, streaming devices, and through web browsers.
If you already use the Channel 4 app, the U content should appear within your existing interface – no separate download or setup required.
U also continues as its own standalone service, available across the same platforms.
Whether you watch through Channel 4’s app or U’s own platform will likely depend on whether you’re willing to pay £3.99 monthly for ad-free viewing through Channel 4 Plus, or prefer sticking with the free, ad-supported experience.
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I’ve been subscribing to Channel4+ since it started. I access it using a Roku Express and the app is pants. I’ve been complaining for years about the way they shrink programme and film credits at the end but they still do it. The whole app needs a complete overhaul. I mainly watch Walter Presents series and Film4 movies after they’ve been aired on Freeview, in order to watch with higher definition. Unfortunately they don’t make all movies available after broadcast.
I’ll also support what Roy says about promos interrupting streaming. WHY?? They’re not commercials so I don’t see the point. They’re just annoying and interrupt the mood/flow/plot. Although I think calling them a “barrage” is over the top as there’s one (or two max) short promo per episode.
At the moment I’m bingeing Patience series two and I can thoroughly recommend it.
Channel 4 Plus is really not totally advert free. I signed up to watch dramas without adverts but was subjected to a barrage of adverts, ” for contractual reasons”
I have unsubscribed.