ITV Launch ITVX to replace ITVHub

[Kunst]

I like it, it certainly sounds a bit of fresh air compared to ITV Hub

[XIII]

I think SVOD will see a decline just because it's quite difficult to keep increasing subscribers numbers with so many different services whereas AVOD and FAST will see viewership increase even though the content generally isn't great on the likes of Pluto and IMDb TV, there is an audience for that sort of content.

[MFTJA]

So if they end up merging BritBox into ITVX what will that mean for the content produced by the other channels? And will this be available in the countries outside the UK where BritBox is available? I don't think most viewers would be that familiar with the ITV name, so it might be better to keep that streaming service named BritBox.

[Joe]

Ultimately though how many subscriptions are people really willing to pay, especially during a cost of living crisis.

https://twitter.com/taskmaster/status/14...6855829516

[Rdd]

So if they end up merging BritBox into ITVX what will that mean for the content produced by the other channels? And will this be available in the countries outside the UK where BritBox is available? I don't think most viewers would be that familiar with the ITV name, so it might be better to keep that streaming service named BritBox.

Oddly enough it’s probably a much better brand than Britbox if they decide to enter the Irish market - where the ITV (or rather UTV) name would still be very familiar - though they haven’t so far (likely due to their arrangement with VMTV). It’s a pity because despite the huge popularity of British TV here there are dwindling sources to get BBC programmes on demand since they pulled them from Netflix. Sky have some through UKTV but there are some huge series like Doctor Who that are not available other than either watching/recording the live broadcast or buying on removable media.

[Ash101]

So if they end up merging BritBox into ITVX what will that mean for the content produced by the other channels? And will this be available in the countries outside the UK where BritBox is available?

I believe the international BritBox is a separate business which remains a 50/50 split venture between ITV and BBC. So that's not going to change with this announcement.

The UK version of BritBox looks set to keep 'other broadcasters' shows for the next few years at least, but if they decide to get rid of it BritBox brand and incorporate the existing stuff into ITVX, surely the likes of BBC & Channel 4 won't want their content on there.

[JAS84]

Ultimately though how many subscriptions are people really willing to pay, especially during a cost of living crisis.

https://twitter.com/taskmaster/status/14...6855829516

Good lord, that's not a joke? :o

[eyeTV]

It should be, £5.99 a month for old episodes of Taskmaster. :oops:

I guess programme specific streaming services are now about to be a thing.

[Ash101]

To be fair, it sounds like it’ll be more worthwhile in the future.

https://twitter.com/alexhorne/status/149...3554795524

[JAS84]

Also on Youtube? Then you can achieve the same thing for free, using an ad blocker browser extension!

[James2001]

Ultimately though how many subscriptions are people really willing to pay, especially during a cost of living crisis.

https://twitter.com/taskmaster/status/14...6855829516

I thought that was a parody of the multitude of niche streaming services at first... but it looks like it's genuine which is unbelievable! You can't even do good satire any more because reality overtakes it.

[Ash101]

Anyone mentioned that X is the Roman numeral for 5? So in a way ITV5.

But no doubt a complete coincidence rather than intentional.

I never liked the name “Hub”. It’s the sort of unimaginative name slapped on a crap cafe in a library or park or something else municipal.

You do realize there's already six linear ITV channels, right? The non-numbered ones being CITV and ITV Be. So calling something ITV5 wouldn't make sense. Be's name is non-numerical because it's not the fifth channel, it's the sixth.

Also, as Joe said, X isn't 5.

I guess you really have to stretch that ITV numbering system to beyond it's linear TV channels.

ITV1 = ITV
ITV2
ITV3
ITV4
ITV5 = CITV
ITV6 = ITVBe
ITV7 = ITV News (social media/VOD)
ITV8 = ITV Sport (same as above)
ITV9 = ITV Drama (I was going to say Encore, but that kinda doesn't work given that channel hasn't existed for years now and I imagine ITV have forgotten the brand's existence anyway)
ITVX

It's really up to interpretation (and Tumble Tower logic)

ITV7 is actually the name of ITV’s horse racing betting thing:

https://itv7.itv.com/

[JasonB]

ITVX sounds like one of those channels that should be buried amongst those 700's channels on Freeview.

[Brekkie]

ITVX sounds like one of those channels that should be buried amongst those 700's channels on Freeview.

What - radio.

I thought that was a parody of the multitude of niche streaming services at first... but it looks like it's genuine which is unbelievable! You can't even do good satire any more because reality overtakes it.

Yes - felt like something they'd be announcing on the 1st of next month. Seems really overpriced too - at £1.99 or £2.99 perhaps as a fan you'd consider it but for £5.99 I'd expect much more. I'm guessing all Taskmaster old and new is on All4 anyway, so can be watched ad free with All4+.

[gottago]

The Taskmaster service certainly reads on its website that it's aimed more at international viewers who can't necessarily access all seasons on YouTube. They're going to add foreign versions of the show so there will eventually be an incentive for people in UK to subscribe to this service rather than All4+.

It's similar to the successful WOW Presents+ which is run by the Drag Race production company and allows fans to subscribe and watch all international versions. In fact their website looks similar to the Taskmaster one (same cookies notice, similar section headings etc) so chances are it's a generic platform for niche streaming services.

Back to ITVX and there's an internal video explaining the service and it actually is quite heavy on non ITV shows from Britbox like The Inbetweeners, It's a Sin and Only Fools. They do all have a Britbox logo in the corner but it is a little odd to see them advertised within an ITV branded service. I suppose really it's not too different to a Sky advert featuring Netflix shows.

All in all it comes across as basically a far stronger and more interesting version of Britbox.