Joining the trend of powerhouse streamers partnering with broadcast networks, Disney and ITV are hoping to give their British audiences a “taste” of each other’s programming.
Starting on July 16, both companies will share a select batch of TV shows and movies from the other’s library that will be made available at no extra cost to Disney+ and ITVX subscribers in the UK.
This content-bundling collaboration is intended to help both platforms reach new audiences. Disney+ viewers typically skew younger, so the deal could really help ITVX—which primarily caters to older viewers with British dramas and thrillers—attract more of a kids & family audience.
The companies say they will be refreshing the shared content regularly. But at launch, ITVX viewers will get access to Disney shows such as Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Phineas and Ferb (pictured) and Star Wars spinoff Andor in a “Taste of Disney+” selection. And similarly, Disney+ subscribers in the UK will be able to check out a “Taste of ITVX” selection that includes family-friendly game show The 1% Club and adult titles like Love Island.
This is just the latest in a string of recent announcements about major broadcasters and streamers working together to share their libraries and increase viewership. Netflix and TF1 started the trend a few weeks ago when they unveiled a plan to offer TF1 channels to Netflix’s French subscribers, and Amazon Prime Video and France Télévisions announced a similar partnership days later.