In a game-changing move, the two dons of analogue TV, BBC and ITV, have announced today that they will be joining forces to provide a Netflix-like streaming service for their US audience.
The service, which will be named Britbox, will feature every British show you can think of including soaps, original dramas and probably even a few episodes of TOWIE thrown in for good measure.
There’s a huge market for British telly in the states already, which channels like PBS picking up Downton Abby and there are bonafide fan clubs for Eastenders that throw viewing parties (that’s true, google it).
However until now, American TV has been months behind the original UK airdate. Much like us Brits have to do with their shows, Americans tend to stream our stuff online. Now the BBC and ITV are looking to capitalise on that and pushing their TV rivals out of the market by making shows available just 24 hours after they air over here.
Simon Pitts, an executive at ITV, said, “Britain produces some of the best television in the world and we’re delighted to be bringing the creative might of the BBC and ITV together for the first time in this exciting new streaming service for U.S. fans.”
No word yet on how much the ad-free service will cost to subscribe to, but with it launching in early 2017, we can’t imagine we’ll have to wait too long to find out.