Major entertainment platforms are racing to dominate video sports content by forming high-profile partnerships with digital media channels. Following Netflix's backing of Gary Lineker’s World Cup podcast, The Rest is Football, global media outlets like Disney+ have actively chased ex-player formats, which has now landed the streamer a new deal with the discussion platform The Overlap. The movement illustrates how athlete-led commentary is reshaping the global entertainment space.

The entertainment giant has officially finalized its latest high-profile agreement to capture football fans.

As revealed in a Disney+ press release, Disney+ has confirmed a 1-year exclusive sponsorship deal with the digital sports network of Gary Neville, The Overlap. The platform becomes the headline sponsor for both Stick to Football and the newly introduced original show Stick to United with Wayne Rooney. The partnership covers the entire 2026 and 2027 football season across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The primary format, Stick to Football, features former professionals Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Ian Wright, and Roy Keane. The companion show, Stick to United with Wayne Rooney, features Rooney alongside content creator Mark Goldbridge to analyse Manchester United. Together, both shows deliver fan-focused discussions, expert opinions, and match analysis.

Subscribers will gain access to 40 new episodes of Stick to Football on Disney+ and The Overlap’s YouTube channel, including 20 temporary platform exclusives and 6 bespoke regional specials. Stick to United premieres 50 episodes featuring extended cuts exclusive to the streaming provider. Weekly streaming begins in the UK and Ireland on August 18 for Rooney's show and August 20 for Neville's panel, as stated in the Disney+ press release.

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The leadership team behind the digital show expressed strong optimism regarding the international expansion.

Gary Neville emphasized that partnering with an iconic global entertainment brand (Disney+) feels completely natural for everyone involved. He has assured existing supporters that the underlying content identity will remain completely unchanged on traditional platforms like YouTube (The Overlap’s YouTube channel).

“Our community will continue to enjoy our content in exactly the way they always have through YouTube, while at the same time Disney+’s incredible global streaming audience will now be able to discover and enjoy it too,” he said, as stated in the Disney+ press release. The joint venture allows their existing production model to further access massive global audience networks.

The agreement grants international sports followers complete choice in selecting where to consume video content. By preserving core distribution channels, the company simultaneously introduces its distinct analytical format to millions of potential viewers globally.

“We’re creating an opportunity to introduce our shows to millions of new viewers globally. We believe that’s a genuinely exciting step forward for both The Overlap and Disney+,” he added. Executives view this milestone as a genuinely transformative step forward for digital football media broadcasting and Disney+.

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What do you think about Disney+'s new step in order to score point against Netflix? Let us know in the comments.