UKTV to broadcast Channel 4 shows

UKTV has signed a new two-year deal with Channel 4 for the multichannel broadcast rights to nearly 200 hours of its content.

Under the agreement, UKTV will be able to show Channel 4 programming on Watch, Dave, G.O.L.D. and Yesterday both on the linear channels and any video on demand services operated under the brands.

The 187 hours of content breaks down into 38 hours of entertainment, 60 hours of drama and 89 hours of comedy, with some of the programming coming to pay TV for the first time ever.

Comedy shows such as Spaced, Black Books, Green Wing and Star Stories will be carried on G.O.L.D. and Dave.

All entertainment content will come to Watch, while Yesterday will carry the drama programming, including Shackleton, Anna Karenina and Longitude.

"We are thrilled to have completed this landmark deal with Channel 4 for so many high-profile and high-quality comedy, drama and entertainment titles," said UKTV's commercial executive director Keith Porritt.

"These arrangements open up a new content stream that complements the many popular titles we acquire from the BBC and our own growing stable of high profile commissions, plus it augments the non-linear opportunities opening up to our new-look multiplatform channel brands."

Channel 4 rights managing director Mike Morris added: "We are delighted to have concluded this deal with UKTV which is a perfect example of Channel 4 maximising rights exploitation to the equal benefit of the channel and the independent production community."