BBC and ITV are coming together to release a streaming service called Britbox which will feature shows such as Love Island, Gavin & Stacey, Gentleman Jack and Broadchurch. Britbox is expected to launch this year.
They companies have come together to set up the subscription service for the UK. It will cost £5.99 a month in HD and is expected to launch any time between October and the end of December.
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Britbox will also provide its own shows exclusive to the service just like Netflix does. The monthly fee will cover multiple screens and devices which is a bargain compared to other streaming services.
ITV and BBC programmes will move to Britbox after they are shown on TV and removed from the company’s own free catch up service. It will also be home to classic British comedies, dramas and documentaries.
Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV, commented on the news: “The agreement to launch BritBox is a milestone moment. Subscription video on demand is increasingly popular with consumers who love being able to watch what they want when they want to watch it. They are also happy to pay for this ease of access to quality content and so BritBox is tapping into this, and a new revenue stream for UK public service broadcasters.
“ITV and BBC have made, and continue to make, the programmes that both reflect and shape British culture and creativity. We now look forward to working together to launch the largest collection of British boxsets ever – bringing the very best in past, present and future British programming and award-winning content to viewers all in one place.
We are already working together on BritBox in the US and Canada and this is proving to be very successful, exceeding its targets.
We are committed to making BritBox UK a great success. Discussions continue with other content and distribution partners and we are looking forward to making further announcements in the coming months.”
BBC Director General, Tony Hall, said: “We have a world beating TV industry with outstanding content. The BBC and ITV are at the centre of that. Together, we have been responsible for delivering the majority of “must see” moments on British TV over the last decade. That “must see” content will now be on BritBox.
“But this service isn’t just about the past. I am really excited about the new shows it will commission. With a remit to be daring and different, many future classics will be commissioned and live on BritBox for the future. These are exciting times for people who love quality TV. Importantly, these shows will be truly British, showcasing our culture and telling distinctive stories. It’s what makes real British TV so special.”
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