There's a new British TV streaming service, but don't get too excited
Rejoice, Anglophiles and British expats: UK TV is now going to be much easier to watch.
BBC and ITV -- two major British broadcasters -- on Tuesday finally launched a streaming service in the U.S. called BritBox.
The service is home to British soap operas including EastEnders, Emmerdale, Holby City, and Casualty, as well as classic comedies including The Office (yes, the original), Gavin & Stacey, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Absolutely Fabulous, Blackadder, and Red Dwarf.
However, notably absent from the list: Sherlock, Downton Abbey, Doctor Who, Top Gear and The Great British Bake Off -- some of the most popular shows on either side of the pond.
“BBC and ITV are known for a vast array of diverse and award-winning programming that fans in the U.S.love and want to watch,” Soumya Sriraman, President of BritBox, said in a statement. “Those fans now have a one-of-a-kind SVOD service option that offers a single point of access to an extensive collection of outstanding British programming to discover and enjoy.”
BritBox also features specially curated playlists, such as “Very British Beginnings,” which showcases actors such as Daniel Craig, Emily Blunt, and James Corden early in their careers. Other playlists include “Best of British Comedy,” “Iconic Detectives” and “Literary Adaptations.”
"It is a service truly fit for a queen," the broadcasters said in their news release.
The service costs $7 a month and is available on web, AppleTV, iPhone, iPad,and Android mobile phones and tablets. It will roll out on Roku and Chromecast in the near future.
Topics BBC
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
