BBC and ITV’s new BritBox will launch without a single new programme

The BBC and ITV’s new joint streaming service will launch later this year without a single new programme, it was announced today.

BritBox will become available in the autumn for £5.99-per-month as an alternative to Netflix, featuring a host of classic shows from both broadcasters including Broadchurch, The Office, Benidorm and Gavin & Stacey, as well as current shows including Love Island.

But bosses confirmed they have not yet commissioned any original programming for the service – with the first BritBox-specific show set to debut in 2020.

The broadcasters have not confirmed exactly when the service will launch but said it would be the ‘fourth quarter’ of the year. 

BBC Director General Lord Hall, left, and ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall, right, announced new joint streaming service BritBox will launch in the autumn

The service, available for £5.99-per-month, will show current and archive programmes but will not have any original content until 2020

The service, available for £5.99-per-month, will show current and archive programmes but will not have any original content until 2020

It has led to members of the public slamming ITV and the BBC for ‘charging for repeats’ while others complained it was an extra charge on top of the existing TV licence and BBC iPlayer.

Others claimed it would not prove a successful challenge to Netflix, which dominates the streaming market in the UK with 10million customers.

One Twitter user said: ‘What… Pay again for repeats ?? They’ve got to be having a laugh!’, while another said: ‘Do the BBC genuinely believe people will pay another £6 per month on iPlayer with a worse name?’

Another user complained about the trend of streaming services only adding to monthly costs and estimated it would cost £36.95-per-month for Netflix, Amazon Prime, BritBox, Now TV and the upcoming DisneyPlus.

The user added: ‘Just what I wanted! Another bundle to sign up to, rather than an all in service with content from multiple providers. Where does it end?’  

ITV and the BBC said there will eventually be a ‘broad range’ of original content but that it will be made on a limited budget – with ITV set to invest around £65million in the first two years.

Meanwhile, Netflix spends around $15billion (£12billion) annually on its original content – including mega hits Stranger Things, Narcos and Orange is the New Black.

Service users will also have to wait for the BBC and ITV to show most programme conventionally before they will be added to BritBox.

Viewers were quick to question the £5.99-per-month fee, claiming they will be charged to 'watch what they have already paid for' with the licence fee

Viewers were quick to question the £5.99-per-month fee, claiming they will be charged to ‘watch what they have already paid for’ with the licence fee

Others said all the streaming services would cost almost £37 per month

Others said all the streaming services would cost almost £37 per month

The BBC has confirmed programmes will first go on iPlayer for up to a year before transferring to BritBox while ITV will air shows for 30 days on ITV Hub before they move over.

Although it is a joint venture, ITV owns 90 per cent of the service and will oversee the service, while the BBC will provide marketing support as well as its programming.

Carolyn McCall, chief executive of ITV, said: ‘The agreement to launch BritBox is a milestone moment. Subscription video on demand is increasingly popular with consumers who love being able to watch what they want when they want to watch it. 

‘They are also happy to pay for this ease of access to quality content and so BritBox is tapping into this, and a new revenue stream for UK public service broadcasters.

‘ITV and BBC have made, and continue to make, the programmes that both reflect and shape British culture and creativity. 

Many angry viewers complained about how they would have to pay for repeats

Many angry viewers complained about how they would have to pay for repeats

‘We now look forward to working together to launch the largest collection of British boxsets ever – bringing the very best in past, present and future British programming and award-winning content to viewers all in one place.

‘We are already working together on BritBox in the US and Canada and this is proving to be very successful, exceeding its targets.

‘We are committed to making BritBox UK a great success. Discussions continue with other content and distribution partners and we are looking forward to making further announcements in the coming months.’

BBC Director General, Tony Hall, added: ‘We have a world beating TV industry with outstanding content. The BBC and ITV are at the centre of that. 

‘Together, we have been responsible for delivering the majority of ‘must see’ moments on British TV over the last decade. That ‘must see’ content will now be on BritBox.

‘But this service isn’t just about the past. I am really excited about the new shows it will commission. 

‘With a remit to be daring and different, many future classics will be commissioned and live on BritBox for the future. 

‘These are exciting times for people who love quality TV. Importantly, these shows will be truly British, showcasing our culture and telling distinctive stories. It’s what makes real British TV so special.’

Channel 5 has not ruled out joining the service while Channel 4 is said to be ‘in discussions’ over adding its content.

Previously the competition commission blocked all the UK’s major broadcasters forming a streaming service called Project Kangaroo in 2008, claiming it made them ‘too dominant’ in the online video industry.

A BBC spokesperson said: ‘Our plans to make programmes available for free for a year on iPlayer mean licence fee payers will get better value for money than ever. 

‘It’s always been the case that people have paid extra to have long-term access to BBC programmes – whether it was buying videos, DVDs, downloads, or streaming on Netflix, Amazon or Now TV – and BritBox is no different.’

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