The oldest commercial network in the UK, ITV, has joined the streaming platform group with ITVX.
The free-to-air public broadcast television network that was launched in 1955 as independent television has replaced ITV Hub with a new streaming service/app.
It officially launched on December 8th 2022, although some of the audience saw changes before then, as the rollout started weeks before.
The titles are only available from the launch date. Content on the service is mostly be free with adverts, but if viewers want to skip the ads, they can sign up for a monthly subscription.
The pricing for the premium tier of the subscription is around £5.99 a month. This is similar to the current price of BritBox, which is also included in the premier tier.
What is ITVX?
As streaming TV becomes more and more popular, ITV replaces its senior ITV Hub app, and instead of a catch-up service, has launched a full streaming TV platform, that’s trying to compete with Netflix, Disney+ and so on.
ITVX has more than 10,000 free hours of on-demand content (with ads), including 35 flagship shows, 200+ series and 250+ films.
There’s even more content offered on the Premium (paid) tier, with new shows premiering every week (often before they air on ITV’s linear channels). But ITVX mainly focuses on the free service.
The paid tier has removed all the adverts when you’re watching on-demand content, but ITV is presumably looking to make most of its money from adverts (with the audience not being asked to pay more).
So, most of ITVX’s content is available on the free and premium tiers, with one exception – BritBox, which is a “bonus” for the Premium tier subscribers.
Previously, BritBox’s independent subscription was £5.99 a month, and the advert-free version of ITV’s previous streaming app, ITV Hub+, was £3.99 a month.
What You Can Watch On ITVX?
ITVX includes a range of classic British shows from ITV’s archives, classic and newer blockbuster films, and exclusive original productions.
At least one flagship show launches on ITVX per week, sometimes months before it airs on ITV’s linear channels.
In addition to 35 flagship shows premiering and streaming exclusively on ITVX, the service also launches full series of upcoming ITV shows on their first day of broadcast, allowing viewers to binge-watch.
Paying subscribers who sign up for ITVX’s Premium tier will also get 6,000 hours of classic British content from BritBox, that includes shows from the channels BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Where You Can Watch ITVX?
ITVX is a streaming-only service, so it needs a broadband connection and a device that supports its app.
ITVX replaces the ITV Hub app in places where it was available until now – including Smart TVs, streaming devices, some Freeview Play recorders, mobile phones, tablets and so on.
But many older Smart TVs, Freesat boxes, and Freeview boxes no longer support ITV Hub – and does not get ITVX.
So, customers with those boxes need to find other streaming devices that do run ITVX.
Sky Q, which didn’t have the full ITV Hub app, has the new ITVX app, as will Sky Glass and Sky’s newest streaming box, Sky Stream.
Video resolution on the new services is limited to HD, with ITV attempting to provide as much HD content as possible.
4K / UltraHD content isn’t available on ITVX currently, but maybe in the future.
ITV’s Chief Executive, Carolyn McCall,previously said about the launch,: “We’re really excited to launch ITVX, with more content available than ever before, and a whole range of exclusive commissions.
ITVX is powered by a significant, streaming-first commissioning budget, and an integrated technology and data platform providing a high quality, and more personalised viewing and advertising experience, that will continue to evolve in 2023 and beyond.”
Note: This piece is based on an article from CordBusters