British public service broadcaster Channel 4 has renewed its distribution deal with the Walt Disney Company that will keep the iconic animated sitcom “The Simpsons” on the network for a few more years.
Starting in January, Channel 4 will move The Simpsons to E4, where episodes up to Season 32 will air in regular rotation. Disney Plus will debut new episodes from Season 36 onward, and then allow E4 to air them weeks after they premiere on the streaming service. Channel 4’s streaming platform will also have distribution rights to new episodes of The Simpsons after they are initially made available on Disney Plus.
“Aligning with Channel 4’s Fast Forward strategy, the collaboration embraces the generational shift that is taking place in TV viewing to reach younger viewers, who engage with both the popular entertainment channel E4, and streaming platforms,” a Channel 4 spokesperson said in a statement.
“he Simpsons and Channel 4 have a historic relationship, and I’m delighted that we will continue to bring this much loved and iconic series to our audience,” Polly Scates, the Head of Acquisition at Channel 4, said on Wednesday. “In an evolving market, collaboration has never felt more important, and it’s been a pleasure working with Disney Entertainment to bring the latest seasons to U.K. viewers, who can now watch the show on E4 and C4 Streaming once it has aired on Disney Plus.”
“The Simpsons stands the test of time, and they continue to be one of the most beloved and well-known families in the world,” Dayna Donaldson, the Vice President of Content Sales for the U.K. and Nordic regions at Disney, said in a statement. “We are delighted that Channel 4, along with Disney Plus, will be bringing these larger-than-life characters and the comedy of Springfield to U.K. audiences, introducing the series to the next generation and new audiences for years to come.”
The Simpsons initially made their U.K. debut on the satellite TV channel Sky One in the 1990s. The channel was partially owned by News Corporation, which shared common ownership with the Fox Broadcasting Network in the United States. Channel 4 started sharing domestic telecast rights to The Simpsons with Sky in 2004.
