Sky Revives Disney+ Cinema Channel After Five-Year Hiatus
Sky is bringing back a popular TV channel, five years after it was dramatically axed, in a major move for entertainment viewers. The new Disney+ Cinema channel will be exclusively available to Sky Cinema customers across the United Kingdom and Ireland starting in March 2026.
Partnership and Launch Details
This revival comes as part of a strategic partnership between Sky and the entertainment giant Disney. The channel will offer a linear broadcast experience, providing a curated taste of the extensive movie library available on Disney+. Sky subscribers can activate Disney+ through their Sky Q, Sky Glass, or Sky Stream devices, with existing Disney+ customers able to seamlessly transfer their accounts and profiles to Sky.
Sophia Ahmad, Chief Consumer Officer at Sky, emphasized the company's commitment to enhancing customer experience. "We're focused on giving Sky customers the best content, in the best experience, at the best value," she stated. "This agreement reinforces our focus on making it easier than ever for customers to enjoy the very best entertainment, all in one place."
Content and Market Impact
The Disney+ platform is renowned for hosting a vast array of content, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Star Wars films, Hulu TV shows like Only Murders in the Building, and beloved Disney and Pixar animated classics. Under the new agreement, Disney+ Standard with Ads will be included in eligible Sky TV packages from March 2026, allowing millions of Sky customers to access all of Disney+'s movies and series.
Karl Holmes, General Manager of Disney+ for The Walt Disney Company EMEA, highlighted the significance of this partnership. "We've grown Disney+ in the UK into our largest market across Europe over the past six years, and Sky is the perfect partner for our next wave of growth in the UK and Ireland," he said. "This agreement opens up a substantial new audience for content creators and advertisers."
Benefits for Subscribers
Key benefits for Sky Cinema subscribers include:
- Exclusive access to the new Disney+ Cinema linear channel.
- A simple, integrated subscription model that combines Sky's offerings with Disney+ content.
- Enhanced entertainment options spanning Sky Originals, premium sports, and global partner content.
This move aims to streamline the viewing experience, offering customers a unified platform for top-tier entertainment without the need for multiple subscriptions or devices.
