Disney+ Moves Into Sky TV Package as Part of Multi-Year Deal

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Sky TV subscribers in the U.K. and Ireland will soon be able to watch Disney+ directly through their Sky package. Interestingly, this means customers will essentially be bundling streaming services again – something many people switched from traditional cable to avoid. Sky has reached a deal with Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max, and Hayu to include these services in their £24 per month Ultimate TV package.

This would be similar to Comcast’s Xfinity including Disney+ in its cable TV plans. Just a few years ago, this idea would have seemed impossible, as people were rapidly cancelling cable. But now, it’s becoming a necessary move for businesses to stay competitive.

This agreement highlights an unexpected shift: streaming isn’t eliminating cable TV, but rather merging with it. It seems people are prioritizing ease of use and cost savings over strictly sticking with streaming. As viewers look for ways to save money or simplify their entertainment options, Sky TV might actually convince some who cancelled cable to sign up again.

Sky is presenting this deal as a way to make things easier for customers, not as a step backward.

The Rebundling Era

Sophia Ahmad, Sky’s head of customer products, announced a new feature that combines Sky TV with popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Hayu all in one subscription. This integration will make it easier for customers to switch between shows on different platforms. For example, Sky and Disney+ content will be presented together, and viewers will find both in the ‘Continue Watching’ section.

Starting in March 2026, Sky TV customers will receive a Disney+ Standard with Ads subscription as part of their package. Disney also announced that Sky Cinema subscribers will get a special preview of Disney+ movies through a new, dedicated linear channel.

Disney+ isn’t being offered as an extra service—it’s now part of certain Sky TV packages. Existing Disney+ subscribers can even transfer their accounts to Sky. Although partnering with a traditional TV provider might seem unusual for a streaming service, it could help keep customers from canceling—a common issue as shows and movies move between different platforms.

The deal marks the latest turn in a decade-long evolution of how television is packaged and sold.

Business Strategy

As a movie and TV fan, I remember when streaming services first came along – they felt like a breath of fresh air! For so long, cable felt expensive and you were stuck with tons of channels you didn’t even watch. Streaming promised something better, a way to pick and choose what you wanted. That’s why companies like Disney jumped in so quickly, launching Disney+ and trying to connect directly with us, the viewers, instead of going through cable companies. They really put a lot of money into building those platforms.

While Disney+ has seen slower growth in the U.S. since 2022, offering it as part of a Sky TV package might not be a step back, but rather an adjustment. Combining services helps Disney+ reach more people, keep existing customers, and reduce cancellations.

What started as a move away from expensive cable packages is changing again. It seems people now prioritize affordability and ease of use over having complete control over what they watch. Streaming initially offered freedom from traditional cable ‘bundles,’ but we may be heading towards a new kind of package deal.

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2026-02-13 15:56