“Friends” Returns to Channel 4 After 15 Years

This is where Channel 4 has returned. The UK's free-to-air broadcaster has acquired the rights to the iconic American sitcom, and all 10 seasons will stream on Channel 4's VoD platform and E4 from January 2027. Friends reached an entire generation of Britons through linear broadcasts on Channel 4 and then […]

This is where Channel 4 stepped in again.

The UK free-to-air broadcaster has acquired the rights to the iconic American sitcom, and all 10 seasons will air on VoD broadcaster Channel 4 and E4 from January 2027.

NBC's Friends reached an entire generation of Brits in the 90s and 90s when it aired on Channel 4 and then E4. Channel 4 was the UK's main broadcast home when it launched in the mid-1990s, and then Friends moved to E4 with the launch of the digital channel in 2001, one of a number of US imports that defined the channel's offering alongside the likes of Big Brother. Related News News Kelsey Grammer Returns to NBC as Star of Developing EMT Drama News 'Chicago Med' Alum Mark Ruffalo Hasn't Really Forgiven Gwynne Newsom for Supporting the Paramount-WBD Merger This could be a 2028 problem for a potential POTUS challenger

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, along with a host of A-list guest stars, the show, which makes its way to New York after six twenty-something films, is undoubtedly one of the greatest comedies of all time. Watch on Deadline

Since Friends left Channel 4, it has aired on networks such as Netflix in the UK (and around the world), where it's aired heavily, the UK's Channel 5 Skydance and Comedy Central.

HBO Max will remain the home of Friends in the UK, but Channel 4 will have free-to-air rights. The deal was handled by Skydance's Warner Bros. sales arm, which saw the show divest from Channel 5's Skydance UK. It's one of the biggest show deals to be revealed since the Skydance deal closed, with distribution executives from Skydance's new sales arm fully unveiled at Cannes as the MIPCOM TV sales market wraps up.

This news is also published with the entry of Channel 4 into a new era. David Brindley, head of programs, will start in a few weeks, and about 50 percent of the launch team will be laid off.

Channel 4's head of content strategy, Kiran Nataraja, said: “Friends has always been a favorite with audiences and we are delighted to welcome the series back to its original UK home, made possible through our valued relationship with Warner Bros. Its witty, character-driven comedy and enduring popularity make it a natural fit for Channel 4. Popularity driven by long-running programs to attract new fans and keep them going. slate."

Polly Skeets, who landed the deal for Channel 4, added: “Most of us remember exactly where we were when we watched the Friends finale. This iconic series has lasting appeal and continues to bring together audiences of all ages."

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