Disney+ taps Neville’s media empire
Disney+ has struck a landmark agreement with Gary Neville’s media venture The Overlap, bringing two flagship podcasts — Stick to Football and Stick to United — to its streaming platform. The deal, announced in August 2026, marks a significant expansion of the tech giant’s sports portfolio and underscores the growing influence of former players turned content creators.
The partnership, which runs through the 2026/27 season, will see Disney+ sponsor both shows and release a batch of exclusive episodes of Stick to United for a limited period. This collaboration is positioned as a direct counter to Netflix’s growing football podcast lineup, including The Rest Is Football.
Stick to Football will bring together an all‑star panel of Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Ian Wright and Roy Keane, offering listeners a blend of analysis, behind‑the‑scenes stories and contemporary debate. Meanwhile, Stick to United will be fronted by Wayne Rooney alongside Mark Goldbridge, delivering weekly reflections on Manchester United’s latest campaigns and broader football narratives.
A strategic acquisition fuels the vision
The Overlap’s recent majority stake acquisition by Global, a leading UK‑based audio conglomerate, has provided the financial and editorial firepower needed to scale the venture. Mark Goldbridge, who built a sizable following by chronicling United’s fortunes on YouTube, completed a sale of his channels to The Overlap earlier this year and has hailed Stick to United as a watershed moment for fan‑driven media.
The shows will be accessible not only on Disney+ but also on major podcast platforms and The Overlap’s YouTube channel, ensuring a multi‑platform presence that mirrors the hybrid distribution model that has become standard in sports media. This approach aims to capture both the platform’s massive subscriber base and the dedicated fan communities that have long followed these pundits.
Premiere schedules have been set, with Stick to United launching weekly from August 18 and Stick to Football debuting a few days later in the UK and Ireland on August 20. Both series promise a blend of weekly analysis and special extended episodes, positioning Disney+ as a hub for original sports audio content alongside its extensive library of drama, comedy, documentary and ESPN programming.
Industry observers view the deal as a bellwether for the convergence of traditional broadcasting, streaming services and fan‑centric content. By leveraging the credibility of former internationals and the reach of a global streaming platform, Disney+ hopes to deepen engagement with football audiences worldwide and to diversify its original content slate beyond scripted entertainment.