Don’t worry, you are not misreading a headline about the Netflix movie Bird Box, but rather seeing the name for the new streaming service from ITV and BBC, BritBox. The broadcasting giants have collaborated to create a new streaming service offering an impressive collection of British box sets and original series on demand. Titles include EastEnders, Fawlty Towers, Doctor Who, and even news shows like Good Morning Britain, which would stream within 24 hours of airing.
Think Netflix but British centric, as ITV CEO Carolyn McCall says: "BritBox will be the home for the best of British creativity-celebrating the best of the past, the best of today and investing in new British originated content in the future."
Shows will vary from the past, present, and future British content as well as titles commissioned specifically for BritBox. It’s already a huge hit in the US with over half a million subscribers and looking to launch in the UK in the second half of 2019. So what do people think so far?
The ugly
Many UK viewers slam the idea of paying a subscription when they already pay their TV licensing fee, which includes iPlayer. Plus, they're firmly loyal to the houses of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
What’s shocking is..we already pay more in licensing fee than we do for Netflix per year..not counting sky or virgin!! Now this🤷♂️f@&k off #BritBoxFebruary 27, 2019
#BritBox What a load of shite.I survive perfectly on Freeview, Netflix and Now TV. Nothing else is needed.February 27, 2019
BBC and ITV launching #BritBox to rival Netflix and Amazon Prime pic.twitter.com/RTHfxkeY4JFebruary 27, 2019
i don’t understand why #BritBox is being launched in the uk. we pay to watch the programmes through our licences on live tv and get them for free on iplayer and hub?February 27, 2019
So, #BritBox… a streaming service that you have to pay for… for a back catalogue of programmes we already pay £150 a year for? Programmes that are, for the most part, absolute tosh. Someones having us on aren’t they? 😂All hail @NetflixUK and @AmazonPrime 🙌 pic.twitter.com/MfcOwkwvg5February 27, 2019
The slightly nicer
Some are more open minded by countering the payment argument and reminding us IT'S NOT COMPULSORY. There is also the comparison to buying DVDs of popular shows, technically you are still paying twice?
Well this Britbox announcement is interesting. IPlayer so brilliant, ITV Hub so poor, let’s hope it inherits the right genes. #BritboxFebruary 27, 2019
I see people complaining that they won't subscribe to #britbox because 'they already bought the programmes with the licence fee'.So, you've never bought any BBC DVDs/Blu-rays? Should they be free too?No, didn't think so.February 27, 2019
I wish someone would gently explain the concept of royalties to everyone who thinks that they personally own the entire BBC back catalogue because they pay their licence fee. #britboxFebruary 27, 2019
Why are people moaning about #BritBox? If you don't like it you don't have to pay for it? Just continue watching your Freeview. 🤷♂️February 27, 2019
This person gets my reference!
I honestly thought this was some sort of ridiculous Bird Box sequel at first #BritBox pic.twitter.com/X552VzOI0IFebruary 27, 2019
A nice(?) nod to current UK affairs
Instead of a #britbox to rival Netflix let's have as #brexitbox that only shows mildly racist programmes from the 70s like Mind Your Language and Love Thy Neighbour.February 27, 2019
And an unfortunate rebranding, fitting since the logo looks very familiar...
I’m not entirely sure the marketing department have thought through all the rhyming implications #BritBox pic.twitter.com/Aas1xH3LWyFebruary 27, 2019
is it just me or does this look like @nationalexpress logo 🤣 #britbox #bbc pic.twitter.com/rvYisu6tajFebruary 27, 2019
Forget about BritBox for now, here's everything we know about the new Disney+ streaming service launching later this year.
