BBC and ITV team up to launch British TV streaming service BritBox in the UK
BritBox is going to be launching in the UK!
Fans of British TV who live on the other side of the pond will already be familiar with the streaming service, which launched in the USA in 2017 and in Canada last year.
BritBox now has over half a million subscribers in North America.
The BBC and ITV this week announced that they’re in “the concluding phase of talks to establish a strategic partnership to bring an exciting new streaming service to UK audiences.”
The two broadcasters are currently working on a formal legal agreement and they expect to add other production partners.
In the USA and Canada, the subscription video on-demand service features a library of nearly 4,000 hours of British television programming, including current and past series from the BBC and ITV.
Highlights include Poirot, Vera, Sherlock Holmes, Maigret, Merlin, Blackadder, Bleak House, Brideshead Revisited and Inspector Morse.
Billed as a British rival to Netflix, the new UK service would provide “an unrivalled collection of British boxsets and original series, on demand, all in one place,” boasting the “biggest collection of British content available on any streaming service.”
It would also premiere brand new commissions from British production companies, specifically created for BritBox.
Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV, commented: “I am really pleased that ITV and the BBC are at the concluding stage of discussions to launch a new streaming service.
“BritBox will be the home for the best of British creativity – celebrating the best of the past, the best of today and investing in new British originated content in the future. “
BBC Director General, Tony Hall, added: “I am delighted that the BBC and ITV are working together on something truly special – BritBox. A new streaming service delivering the best home grown content to the public who love it best.
“The service will have everything from old favourites to recent shows and brand new commissions. It’s an exciting time for the viewing public.”
The BBC and ITV plan to launch Britbox in the UK in the second half of 2019.
The proposed price hasn’t yet been confirmed, but it is said to be “competitive,” so we’d expect it to be around £5 to £8 a month.
Pro Tip: Store/stream your favorite webisodes/music and videos from anywhere on any device using azure windows 10 available at a very low cost azure virtual desktop pricing.