Disney+ Expands Content Library with Strategic RAI Deal

Disney+ has finalized an agreement with Italian state broadcaster RAI, marking a new step in its content expansion strategy. This deal will allow Disney+ subscribers to access a selection of popular RAI programs, both scripted and unscripted, alongside Disney's global slate of movies and series. The collaboration with RAI joins a series of similar agreements that Disney+ has established with leading European public networks, demonstrating its commitment to offering local content in various markets. The agreement was inked by Disney with RAI's sales arm, RAI Com.

This initiative reflects Disney+'s strategy of working with free-to-air broadcasters across Europe, enabling them to reach wider audiences while providing Disney+ subscribers with a greater variety of local entertainment. Karl Holmes, general manager of Disney+ EMEA, highlighted the importance of this collaboration in providing Disney+ customers in Italy with an even broader selection of iconic local shows.

Among the featured content that will be added to Disney+ are entertainment programs such as the talk show 'Belve', hosted by Francesca Fagnani, and the game show 'The Floor – Ne rimarrà solo uno', presented by Paola Perego and Gabriele Vagnato. These programs will be available for streaming the day after their broadcast on RAI 2. In terms of scripted content, Disney+ will expand its local offering with a selection of RAI's most successful series, including titles such as 'Braccialetti rossi', 'Mina Settembre', 'My Brilliant Friend', 'Un passo dal cielo' and 'Màkari', in addition to the docu-reality series 'Il Collegio'.

These series will be offered in a dedicated collection on Disney+, complementing the RAI titles already available on the platform, such as 'Don Matteo', 'I Bastardi Di Pizzofalcone', 'Un Medico In Famiglia' and 'Doc – Nelle Tue Mani', thus strengthening Disney+'s local content offering in Italy.

This initiative aligns with Disney's approach of working with free-to-air broadcasters in Europe, helping them bring their stories to wider audiences, while offering Disney+ subscribers more local entertainment and more ways to enjoy the shows they love. The inclusion of RAI programs on Disney+ not only expands the platform's catalog but also reinforces its position in the Italian market. Disney+'s strategy of partnering with public networks in different European countries demonstrates its commitment to adapting its offerings to local preferences and expanding its reach globally.

This strategy has already been successfully implemented in other European markets, such as Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Germany, where Disney+ has established similar agreements with networks like Atresmedia, RTVE, ITV, SIC, ARD, and ZDF. The collaboration with RAI, which is based on over 40 years of joint work between Disney and the Italian broadcaster, is a clear example of this strategy in action.