BritBox: New streaming service quietly launches in the UK
The platform will offer classic shows from major channels including BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5
BritBox – the new streaming service offering classic shows from the country’s major channels – has quietly launched today.
The full version of the platform, which will feature shows from BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, has gone live following the conclusion of a beta trial phase which had been running since mid-October.
Shows included at launch include Downton Abbey, Gavin & Stacey, Broadchurch, Fawlty Towers and Ashes to Ashes.
A multi-year deal struck with Channel 4 and Film4 will bring over a thousand hours of additional content to the service from 2020.
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“BritBox is all about bringing together the best of British creativity and talent in a new digital world," said Reemah Sakaan, Group Director ITV SVOD.
"Today’s launch and announcement of our partnership deals with Channel 4 and BT underline the quality and scale we want the service to embody. It’s wonderful to be bringing such a wealth of brilliant British TV and film to subscribers from today, and I’m looking forward to revealing our exciting, original commissions in the near future.”
Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon added: “Channel 4 has always showcased distinctive and diverse British content and, in a world of almost unlimited choice, our public service brand values are more important than ever for viewers.
“The opportunity to collaborate as PSBs [public service broadcasters] on BritBox extends our track record of partnership and will ensure there is a compelling single destination for the very best high quality, home-grown content.”
As well as an impressive catalogue of shows, including the biggest collection of British boxsets on any video on demand service, a range of original content will be produced for the service.
This starts with Lamb of God – a series starring Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Jessica Barden (The End of the F***ing World) which was already broadcast on Australian TV in July.
Further material – including more than 600 classic episodes of Doctor Who and a range of movies from Channel 4 and Film4 - will be added to the catalogue in due course.
A subscription, which includes multi-screen viewing and HD, is available at a monthly cost of £5.99.
Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
