Yahoo News BBC and ITV confirm UK launch for BritBox is happening soon
Remotes at the ready, people, because there's another new subscription service in town.
After months of speculation, both the BBC and ITV have officially confirmed the launch of BritBox in the UK – and there isn't long to wait until it's available across your devices.
In a joint statement today (July 19), BritBox was announced as the past, present, and future of television, with the HD streaming service offering a wealth of popular shows both from the channels' archives and on-screen today, and in the near future, some shows of its own.
The brand new streaming service, which will be priced at £5.99 a month, is coming to this side of the pond in the last quarter of the year (so between October and December). It will be full of the nation's favourite programmes and the self-proclaimed home of the largest collection of British boxsets.
A "broad range of original series" made exclusively for the service also are expected to be available to subscribers from next year.
Related: BBC boss reveals which shows will stream on BritBox – and insists your licence fee won't pay for it
BritBox – which will be ad-free, thankfully – also confirmed part of its diverse and exciting library, which is set to include the likes of Love Island, Cleaning Up, Gentleman Jack, Gavin & Stacey, Victoria, Broadchurch, Happy Valley, The Office, and Benidorm.
ITV's CEO, Carolyn McCall, called the launch "a milestone moment" for viewers.
"Subscription video on demand is increasingly popular with consumers who love being able to watch what they want when they want to watch it," McCall said.
"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."
Blowing the Beeb's own trumpet (and ITV's, too), the Director General of the BBC, Tony Hall, praised the UK's "world beating TV industry", which will soon find a home in BritBox.
"We have a world beating TV industry with outstanding content. The BBC and ITV are at the centre of that," Hall said in a statement.
"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."
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