UK's Channel 4 shows to launch on Disney+ next year

LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Channel 4 has signed a deal with The Walt Disney Company to bring its shows to the Disney+ streaming platform in Britain and Ireland early next year.

The collaboration will see many of Channel 4's programmes, including drama "Maya", featuring Bella Ramsey, released on Disney+ at the same time as on Channel 4's own platforms, the broadcaster said on Tuesday.

Channel 4's main linear TV channel and hundreds of hours of its on-demand catalogue will also be available within a branded section of Disney+, it said.

Channel 4, like rival public-service broadcasters, is battling a tough advertising market and declining audiences for its linear channels. It said last month it would cut about 340 jobs, representing more than a quarter of its workforce.

The broadcaster has held preliminary talks with the BBC about a tie-up of some operations, two sources told Reuters earlier this month.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate Holton)