Disney and U.K. network ITV have signed a pact billed as a “first-of-its-kind initiative” that will see them share a curated selection of content across their streaming services.
Disney+ will carry a “promotional selection” of titles from ITV’s ITVX under the banner “Taste of ITVX” that will include shows such as the multi-award-winning “Mr. Bates vs The Post Office,” espionage thriller ” Spy Amongst Friends” and selected seasons of the reality hit “Love Island.”
Meanwhile, ITVX will have a “Taste of Disney+” selection of shows and movies including the first seasons of FX’s “The Bear”, Lucasfilm’s “Andor” and “Only Murders in the Building,” plus selected series of reality titles such as “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and “The Kardashians.”
The service will launch on both platforms on July 16 and will be available free of charge to both sets of customers, with the content on each selection of titles regularly refreshed.
The deal comes just weeks after Netflix announced a landmark agreement giving its subscribers in France access to TF1 channels via the streamer. The move was widely seen as part of efforts by Netflix to strengthen its power over traditional broadcasters and potentially a litmus test for similar international arrangements going forward.
“We are proud of this innovative collaboration with ITV, which will allow us to bring Disney+ customers some of the U.K.’s favorite and buzzworthy shows and encourage ITVX viewers to discover some of Disney+’s award-winning series and blockbuster films,” said Joe Earley, president, direct-to-consumer, Disney Entertainment.
Added ITV’s managing director of media and entertainment Kevin Lygo: “Disney are fantastic partners with a brilliant breadth of content. This mutually beneficial alliance allows us to show our complementary audiences a specially selected collection of titles, regularly updating, that gives a flavour of the range in our respective offerings. For us, this deal means even more great content for viewers on ITVX, and even more opportunity for viewers to find and enjoy our distinctive titles and services.”distinctive titles and services.”
