BBC and ITV team up to launch BritBox in Australia

Another streaming service, you say? You and your bank account are probably still recovering from the launch of Disney+ and Apple TV+, but it’s time to put that behind you and let the Brits have their time in the spotlight. Honestly, it’s about time – British TV is up there with some of the best. Blackadder, Absolutely Fabulous, The Office (the UK version, duh), Doctor Who, Love Island and ‘Would I Lie to You’ are all, respectively, some of the greats. But as brilliant as they are, the BBC and ITV-produced shows have often been difficult to track down here in Australia. Well, not for much longer, with BBC Studios and ITV announcing plans to launch ‘BritBox’ here in Australia. Rule Britannia!

What is BritBox?

BritBox is an ad-free subscription video-on-demand service (SVOD) that will bring Aussies an “unrivalled collection of great British TV shows”. The shows will range between contemporary and classic box sets – all home-grown from Britain’s finest.

First launched in North America in March 2017 and in the UK in November last year, the studios hope to build on their expanding success and bring BritBox to Australia in late 2020.

“There’s a real opportunity to build on the momentum and brand that has been established in North America and to make BritBox part of BBC Studios’ future strategy in Australia,” said Fiona Lang, General Manager of BBC Studios.

“It’s great to have a new route to market in Australia for ITV’s best loved British content,” said Augustus Dulgaro, Executive VP of ITV Studios. “We know the powerful combination of UK producers and distributors that the BritBox brand represents has been a consumer hit everywhere else and we look forward to bringing it to Australian fans in 2020.”

When will BritBox be available in Australia?

While the UK and the US may have access, when do us Aussies get to experience the best of British humour? The short answer? We’re not sure. Further announcements on price, content and partnerships are expected to be announced in the coming months – however we do know that the Brits are paying £5.99 ($7.50) per month, so it shouldn’t cost you an arm and leg to re-watch some of Britain’s greatest classics.

Sign up to Disney+

Don’t have a Disney+ account yet? There are two plan options to choose from – a monthly subscription, or prepay for a year. Both plans include the same features, with unlimited downloads and the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time. This table includes links to a referral partner.

Brand	Subscription Type	No. of Screens/same time viewing	Advertised Cost^^/month or year
	Disney+ Monthly Subscription Stream the Disney+ library, including Disney+ Originals, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic & Star Watch on 4 screens at the same time Add up to 7 profiles Unlimited downloads of shows and movies on up to 10 devices min. cost $13.99 over one month	4No. of Screens /same time viewing	$13.99 Advertised Cost/month	Get Deal
	Disney+ Yearly Subscription Stream the Disney+ library, including Disney+ Originals, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic & Star Watch on 4 screens at the same time Add up to 7 profiles Unlimited downloads of shows and movies on up to 10 devices Prepay for a yearly subscription and save on the monthly cost min. cost $139.99 over one year	4No. of Screens /same time viewing	$139.99 Advertised Cost/year	Get Deal
			^^View important information

Photo credit: ITV Press Centre, BBC Studios.

Original Author: Maddy Morwood