New Streaming Service BritBox by BBC and ITV Officially Launches

It is a service truly fit for a queen. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster, today launch BritBox, a new subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service with the most comprehensive collection of British television, across all genres, available anywhere in the U.S. With thousands of hours of programming at launch – the majority exclusive, and many new shows added weekly – the service features U.S. premieres of highly sought-after shows; a “Now” category, which serves up British soaps and other programs as soon as 24-hours after UK broadcast; and a treasure-trove of iconic series that have made the BBC and ITV the world’s foremost producers of television content.

“BBC and ITV are known for a vast array of diverse and award-winning programming that fans in the U.S. love and want to watch,” said Soumya Sriraman, President, BritBox. “Those fans now have a one-of-a-kind SVOD service option that offers a single point of access to an extensive collection of outstanding British programming to discover and enjoy.”

In addition to an expansive catalog, BritBox features specially curated playlists, like “Very British Beginnings,” which showcases actors such as Daniel Craig, Emily Blunt, and James Corden early in their careers. Other playlists that help fans discover new favorites include “Best of British Comedy,” “Iconic Detectives,” and “Literary Adaptations.”

BritBox is now available for $6.99 per month – after an introductory free trial period – on responsive web, AppleTV, iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile phones and tablets – with Roku® and Chromecast shortly after launch.

BritBox subscribers can expect:

Best of British Dramas and Comedies:

o   Featured in March’s spotlight playlist, “Iconic Detectives,” BritBox is the exclusive destination to binge BBC’s Miss Marple starring Joan Hickson, Inspector Morse with John Thaw, and Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett. Other titles include Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Early Cases starring David Suchet, Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren, Scott & Bailey starring Suranne Jones, Cracker with Robbie Coltrane, Rosemary and Thyme with Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris, Dalziel & Pascoe with Warren Clarke, and the premiere of The Moonstone, based on Wilkie Collins’s much-loved novel.

o   Beloved comedy series, such as Are You Being Served?, As Time Goes By, and the previously announced Keeping Up Appearances, are exclusive to the service. All-time favorites including Blackadder with Rowan Atkinson, the original version of The Office with Ricky Gervais, Gavin & Stacey with James Corden, and Absolutely Fabulous featuring the amazing Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley will also be available.

o   BritBox has the complete library of, and is the exclusive home to, the incredible adventures of Sharpe, starring the award-winning and highly-acclaimed actor Sean Bean set during the Napoleonic wars of 19th century Spain.

o   Exclusive to BritBox are iconic dramas including original Upstairs Downstairs and Brideshead Revisited. Other dramas will include the more recent 2010 – 2012 Upstairs Downstairs, Desperate Romantics, and Bleak House.

U.S. Premieres:

o   As previously announced, BritBox features U.S. premiere New Blood from acclaimed writer Anthony Horowitz, and Tutankhamun from BAFTA award-winning writer Guy Burt. The service will also feature season premieres of drama favorites Cold Feet and Silent Witness.

The “Now” Category

o   BritBox’s “Now” category features an amazing collection of soaps and series that, for the first time ever, will be available as soon as 24 hours after their UK broadcast, including EastEnders, Emmerdale, Holby City, and Casualty – with more to be announced.