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BBC and ITV’s streaming service BritBox launches in Australia

BritBox, the joint venture streaming service between BBC Studios and ITV, has launched in Australia today.

BritBox offers viewers a library of classic and contemporary content from the BBC and ITV, curated to suit an Australian audience. Its launch coincides with ‘Doctor Who Day’, the anniversary of the sci-fi series first episode going to air, as BritBox will be the only streaming location that will house the entire library of Doctor Who episodes.

BritBox announced that it was coming to Australia in March this year. The service originated in North America in March 2017 and now has over 1m subscribers.

BritBox has launched in Australia today

Subscriptions to the service cost $8.99 per month, or $89.99 for 12 months, following a 7-day free trial.

Exclusive content on the platform will include the reboot of All Creatures Great and Small, featuring Nicholas Ralph, Rachel Shenton and Callum Woodhouse, and crime dramas A Confession and Appropriate Adult. BritBox Australia is also working on an original series, Spitting Image.

At the time of its launch announcement in March, BBC Studios informed Mumbrella that the launch of BritBox would not affect its existing relationships with Foxtel and the ABC, calling the two broadcasters ‘valued partners’.

BritBox began building out its local team in July, naming Moira Hogan as country manager and Richard Hill as head of launch marketing and PR.

Hogan said BritBox will become a “place to discover hidden gems”.

“We’ve delved into the rich catalogues of BBC Studios and ITV to deliver thousands of hours of classic and contemporary mystery, crime, drama and comedy titles for launch. This is just the start, with plenty more favourite British series, territory premieres, exclusives and originals to be released on BritBox each month,” she said.

“BritBox will also be the home to a variety of recently and previously broadcast series that viewers may have missed the first time around, now available for streaming on demand all in the one place.

“Australians have an affinity for British television and the launch of BritBox in Australia is a unique opportunity to tap into this passion and nostalgia. We look forward to firmly establishing ourselves with Australian streaming audiences.”

BBC and ITV staple programs that will be available on BritBox immediately include Mr Bean, Blue Planet and Planet Earth, Kingdom, The Vicar of Dibley, The Office, Top Gear, Luther, Absolutely Fabulous, Midsomer Murders, Blackadder and more.

Fiona Lang, general manager for BBC Studios ANZ, said: “BritBox is very much a part of BBC Studios’ future strategy in Australia. The global growth of BritBox has been truly impressive and there is no doubt that we are heavily invested in ensuring the success of BritBox in Australia as part of our partnership.”

Martin Goswami, group strategic partnership and distribution director at ITV, added: “This partnership provides a unique platform to give Australians what they want; the best of British creativity in a streaming format. BritBox offers the chance for consumers to enjoy ITV’s best-loved British content anytime, anywhere. It’s an exciting day for us all.”

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