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BritBox: BBC and ITV to launch new streaming service this year

The BBC and ITV have confirmed their new streaming service BritBox will launch in the UK at the end of 2019.

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Already available in the US and Canada, BritBox pitches itself as the home of outstanding British television.

Content ranges from the latest episodes of soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders, to archive programming such as classic Doctor Who.

Now it’s launch is confirmed for the UK before the year is out.

The two TV giants say that BritBox will be competitively priced at £5.99 per month in HD and across multiple screens and devices, which is less than other streaming services.

BritBox will be the place to view shows recently broadcast on ITV and BBC including Love Island, Famalam, Cleaning Up and Gentleman Jack as well as bringing home iconic shows such as Gavin And Stacey, Victoria, Happy Valley, Broadchurch, Les Miserables, The Office and Benidorm.

As well as past and present shows, BritBox is also commissioning original content from British production companies specifically created for BritBox. The first new show is expected to be commissioned soon and will be available to BritBox viewers from 2020.

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You can sign up ahead of the service’s launch via BritBox.co.uk.

Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV, said: “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, added: “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.

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“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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