As BBC takes control of BritBox International, will the service soon be added to Hubbl?

BBC Studios revealed recently it had taken control of its streaming JV with ITV outside of the UK, BritBox International.

BBC Studios is the BBC’s commercial content studio and media & streaming business.

For ITV’s 50% share of BritBox International, BBC Studios is paying £255m (close to $500m).

The deal doesn’t impact BritBox UK which remains a premium tier on ITV’s UK streaming service ITVX.

The service was first launched by BBC Studios and ITV in 2017.

BritBox is Top 10 streaming service

BritBox has been ranked by Mediaweek in the top 10 streaming services in Australia. In our latest market review, BritBox was ranked at #8.

It is one of just two services in the top 10 not yet available on Hubbl’s streaming management platform. The other one is AMC+.

When asked recently about missing services, Hubbl CEO Patrick Delany told Mediaweek negotiations were ongoing with future potential partners.

Obituary is a British Original coming to Britbox Australia in March

ITV content still coming to BritBox International

As part of the new transaction, BBC Studios has extended its licensing agreements with ITV ensuring that programming for BritBox International will continue to represent a wide range of British content.

Tom Fussell, BBC Studios CEO, said: “This is an important acquisition for us. We are taking full ownership of a successful, growing service we know well and that fits with our stated ambition to double the size of our business.

“Britbox International has British content at its heart and it generates and satisfies demand for British shows outside the UK. We will continue to make significant investments in the future to deliver long-term value to the BBC.”

Carolyn McCall, ITV CEO, said: “The sale of 50% of BritBox International means ITV is focused on its core strategic goals of continuing to build on ITVX’s success and growing ITV Studios.”

BritBox International will become part of BBC Studios’ global media and streaming division.

Its portfolio of digital and direct-to-consumer services also includes BBC.com, BBC Select, the BBC’s premium ad-free documentary streaming service in North America and BBC Podcast Premium, an audio service available in more than 160 countries.

Rebecca Glashow, BBC Studios global media & streaming CEO said: “I am thrilled to further our involvement in BritBox International – it’s a profitable business and a winning proposition. We see tremendous opportunity to grow this unique service and take it to even greater heights for its subscribers, with the full power of the BBC behind it.”

The acquisition by BBC Studios sees BritBox International global CEO Reemah Sakaan is stepping down.

BritBox International is available in eight countries - USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

In Australia consumers pay $9.99 a month or $99.99 for 12 months.

TV Gold podcast reviews UK originals

Listen to reviews of the best new British dramas coming to BritBox on the weekly Mediaweek podcast TV Gold with James Manning and Andrew Mercado.
Episodes are available on all major podcast platforms including Apple and Spotify.

See also from 2020: BBC and ITV streaming service BritBox finally launches in Australia