UKTV takes 350 hours of content from Channel 4

UK digital channels group UKTV has inked an output deal with Channel 4 and will take 350 hours of factual and entertainment programming that has aired on the free-to-air channel.

Channel 4 does not have a programme sales arm but has worked with the various independent producers to broker the deal for their secondary rights. The shows will primarily be transmitted on UKTV’s Really, Home, and Good Food channels and factual offering Yesterday. They will be shown from the third quarter of this year.

The deal brings together content from 16 of the UK’s leading indie producers and was brokered by Alison Sainsbury-Stack, Channel 4 manager of UK Broadcast Sales; UKTV’s director of programming acquisitions, Catherine Mackin, and acquisitions executive, Nicki McDermott.

The deal follows on from an earlier output deal between Channel 4 and UKTV, which is backed by Scripps and BBC Worldwide.

The agreement covers Channel 4 series including Embarrassing Bodies and One Born Every Minute for Really, A Place in the Sun Home and Away and 4 In a Bed for Home, Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage for Good Food, and Time Team for Yesterday.

UKTV’s CEO, Darren Childs, said: “UKTV and Channel 4 are successfully collaborating in a number of areas and as the category leaders in lifestyle and factual channels, this deal will enable UKTV to pull further away from its competitors.”

Channel 4’s COO, Anne Bulford said: “I’m delighted that Channel 4 has agreed this deal with UKTV, which is a great example of how we are working closely with our independent production partners to maximise the value of their UK secondary rights.”