Building on its success in the US and Canada, BBC Studios and ITV have announced their intention to roll out their co-owned BritBox SVOD service globally in a move which could see the streaming platform available in up to 25 countries.
Going forward, BritBox says that it will not only as previously announced launch in Australia later in 2020, but will now seek to broaden its global footprint across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America and Africa. “This international expansion plan will firmly establish BritBox as a global premium brand in a rapidly growing sector,” said ITV CEO Carolyn McCall. “Offering subscribers the best and biggest collection of British content has enabled BritBox to rapidly grow in our existing countries and as streaming continues to expand worldwide this roll out will give our distinctive streaming business truly international scale.”
Tim Davie CEO BBC Studios added: “BritBox has very quickly found a place in viewers’ hearts and we know there is further appetite amongst international audiences who love great British content. We are actively appraising new markets to introduce the service and are very excited about the imminent launch in Australia.”
BritBox claims to bring to viewers the greatest collection of British boxsets with homegrown talent. The collection includes brand new and recent programmes as well as classic British TV. Full box-sets include all six series and specials of Downton Abbey, all three series of Broadchurch, seven series of Only Fools and Horses, three series of Gavin & Stacey and both series of Extras. BritBox is also the home of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Poirot and reality shows such as Love Island. The North American collection offers a range of UK programming including exclusive premiere releases such as Shetland and Vera launching day and date with the UK and soaps such as Coronation Street and EastEnders available the day after UK transmission.
The service has also launched various original commissions and co-pros such as The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco, The Mallorca Files, There She Goes and The Bay. The UK service has also just announced its first slate of British Original scripted commissions: Spitting Image (Avalon), A Spy Among Friends (Sony & ITV Studios); The Beast Must Die (New Regency Television and Scott Free), Crime (Bucaneer Media) and Magpie Murders (Eleventh Hour Films) will debut exclusively on the UK streamer.
Source: https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2020072758821/britbox-plans-global-expansion.html#axzz6TQB44500