Watch out BBC iPlayer! ITV’s new free streaming app gets surprise update to its library

BBC iPlayer is getting a significant new competitor with ITV gearing as much as launch a model new streaming app later this 12 months – ITVX. This new app – which might be obtainable to look at totally free by way of an ad-supported plan – will launch with over 15,000 hours value of content material to look at, would be the place to look at main occasions such because the World Cup and Love Island Closing stay, and also will be the place you possibly can watch premieres of recent ITV reveals totally free first earlier than it arrives on ITV’s broadcast channel months later. If this all wasn’t sufficient ITVX has simply obtained even higher with a brand new deal introduced that can carry much more content material to the app.

It was revealed right now that ITVX has penned a deal which can see 400 hours of additional content material added to the service when it launches in late 2022.

And it is a numerous choice of content material that’s coming to ITVX, with content material from Anime Ltd and CBS Actuality heading to the app.

Anime Ltd is a Glasgow-based agency that specialises in anime and is the biggest unbiased anime licensor within the UK.

The deal struck with ITV means ITVX will air free-to-watch anime episodes and movies.

Over 500 anime episodes – which quantities to round 200 hours value of content material – is heading to ITVX.

Among the many anime reveals that might be free to look at with ITVX embody the critically acclaimed cult hit Cowboy Bebop (which was not too long ago made right into a stay motion Netflix collection). Different animes heading to ITVX embody Gunbuster (the directorial debut of Neon Genesis Evangelion visionary Hideaki Anno), Lupin III Half 6 and Megalobox.

The opposite deal that ITV has signed is with CBS Actuality, and it’ll as soon as once more see 200 hours value of additional content material added to ITVX – this time true crime reveals.

Programmes comparable to Descent of a Serial Killer – which is offered by criminologist Donal MacIntyre, The Actual Prime Suspect and New Scotland Yard Information will all be heading to ITVX.

These offers will assist carry a various array of content material to ITVX, along with all the opposite content material that might be obtainable within the app. In addition to ITV-made reveals ITVX will supply entry to premium dramas, documentaries, US collection, comedy and actuality reveals, blockbuster movies and far more.

ITVX might be free to look at because of an ad-supported plan however a paid-for ad-free plan, which additionally provides entry to BritBox, might be obtainable too.

Talking in regards to the newest additions to the app’s library, Laura Franses – ITV’s director of content material partnerships streaming – stated: “We’re delighted to announce our first wave of offers with Anime Ltd and CBS AMC Networks UK Channels Partnership for True Crime UK from CBS Actuality – with extra to observe. These offers herald a brand new enterprise mannequin and opening up of the ITVX platform enabling us to carry tons of of hours of third get together content material to new and present ITVX customers”.

Whereas Andrew Partridge, president and CEO of Anime Ltd, stated: “We couldn’t be extra happy than to group up with ITV in our efforts to share world-class Japanese animation with new audiences and lifelong followers throughout the UK. With a various lineup of anime from a number of the most spectacular minds in tv and movie, ITVX guarantees to be an important vacation spot for anybody within the medium.”

And Tanya Gugenheim, SVP for enterprise improvement for AMC Networks Worldwide UK, added: “We’re excited to work with ITV on this landmark deal, by which CBS Actuality’s hottest true crime programmes will attain a fair wider viewers. Our new AVOD service True Crime UK from CBS Actuality underscores our dedication to showcasing expert-led critically-acclaimed factual leisure to audiences within the UK and past.”