ITV has confirmed that BritBox UK will no longer commission original shows as the broadcaster gears up to launch ITVX later this year.
The launch of the major new ad-supported free streaming service will represent a watershed moment for ITV as it intends to premiere the majority of its programming via ITVX, many months before the episodes play out on the linear TV channels.
As part of the move, the subscription service BritBox UK will be subsumed into ITVX as its own branded area, enabling users to continue to watch hundreds of boxsets and archive shows from ITV, the BBC, Channel 4 and others.
BritBox UK has had a modest slate of original programmes since it launched two years ago, including Spitting Image, Crime and Magpie Murders, but these are now expected to premiere via ITVX instead.
A spokesperson told Broadcast: "BritBox UK will have no more originals. BritBox International is an entirely different business and it will not be impacted by these changes and will continue to have originals."
ITVX is scheduled to go live in the fourth quarter of this year.
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