ITV Launch ITVX to replace ITVHub

[LargelyALurker]

This is where Freeview not evolving in the way it should have has really held television back.  On a similar note it still baffles me how random unknown companies could get on demand portals on Freeview but ITV/C4/C5 didn't follow the iPlayers lead in that regard and although the apps are now of course available via Freeview Play (or whatever it is called now) they still haven't added a direct link from the channels themselves.  There were supposedly plans to expand the "Press GREEN to watch from start" feature to other PSBs but it is yet to happen.

Press Green to start works on STV, but not other ITV franchises. Odd they’ve had it for over 2 years, and nobody else has. 

https://www.stvplc.tv/blog/2020/02/stv-i...rt-feature

[VMPhil]

ITV don't even have Dolby Digital 5.1, I wouldn't expect them to have anything as fancy as a green button prompt.

[Kunst]

I think it would be absurd in this era to have exclusive contracts with Sky and Virgin for the HD versions of the linear channels; it's absurd already they're not FTA

To be honest, I think it’s even more absurd that we still have SD versions of them.

Oh yeah

[Omnipresent]

More details on ITVX have been released by ITV today:

https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-re...later-year

ITV adds X-appeal to streaming with 9,000hrs of the freshest tv launching for free later this year

35 flagship shows to launch in late 2022

New dramas to premiere on ITVX include A Spy Among Friends, Without Sin and Tell Me Everything

250+ stellar films and 200+ series available at launch

150+ hours of true crime incoming including exclusives Monster in My Family and The Case Against Cosby

Scifi and fantasy collection featuring new and classic series including Astrid & Lilly Save the World and Korean-American hit Dramaworld on offer

[gottago]

ITVX will live stream must-watch events including the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, I’m A Celebrity and the Love Island Finale as they are broadcast on ITV’s channels.

Specifically putting the Love Island Finale is a bit random, possibly hinting that it will launch on that night? Although given it will end around the start of August I wouldn't have thought that would count as "late 2022".

[Brekkie]

ITVX will live stream must-watch events including the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, I’m A Celebrity and the Love Island Finale as they are broadcast on ITV’s channels.

Specifically putting the Love Island Finale is a bit random, possibly hinting that it will launch on that night? Although given it will end around the start of August I wouldn't have thought that would count as "late 2022".

Do they want it to crash on Day 1?

[JetixFann450]

Specifically putting the Love Island Finale is a bit random, possibly hinting that it will launch on that night? Although given it will end around the start of August I wouldn't have thought that would count as "late 2022".

Do they want it to crash on Day 1?

Definitely a good stress test to make sure ITVX wasn't built for nothing at least. After all, you want certain big event television to at least work.

[XIII]

I wouldn't be surprised if ITV uses Love Island for beta testing ITVX

[Rex]

ITV are getting serious about their new streaming platform, they've signed two content deals from Anime Ltd and the company running CBS Reality to house content on ITVX. Both are on the sub-free tier.

With the anime content it explains why all the anime programming from Anime Ltd disappeared from All 4

https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/itvx-to-offer-...bs-reality

[Keith]

ITV are getting serious about their new streaming platform, they've signed two content deals from Anime Ltd and the company running CBS Reality to house content on ITVX. Both are on the sub-free tier.

If ITVX is to launch with CBS Reality content I wonder if this might answer the question of 'what happens to the CBS Catchup service' now that their channels have been renamed. The article states "CBS Reality content will be available in the ad-supported free-to-view tier of ITVX", which would probably make the separate CBS catchup app fairly redundant.

[JetixFann450]

Anime? Didn't All4 try that a few years ago and didn't really see any significant success keeping it? Though at the same time, that's probably on them for not placing them on E4 and using that as a shop window to All4 where anime on TV was a dying medium, given the closure of the underground Viceland. Given the large monopoly that Sony owns of Crunchyroll, a popular anime streamer, I do not know how ITVX is gonna have legs to stand on given that basis.

[Brekkie]

Yes, it's low value content really. Anime has a loyal but small audience (and ITV isn't a natural fit), whilst CBSReality may provide content but it's fairly low value content if it's mainly Judge Judy repeats, though probably a more natural fit for those who watch the crap ITVBe serve up.

[BcastCornwall]

The one crucial thing they've not discussed anywhere that I've seen is the improvement of the streaming quality and reliability that's so badly needed. ITV is now 14years behind the BBC iPlayer without a proper HD experience let alone a UHD one.

[Dogorilla]

I don't use ITV Hub very much but I think ITVX could be a success as long as they advertise it well enough (and I'm sure they will do on TV at least). It sounds like they're doing a good job securing a variety of shows that will cover most people's tastes.

Anime might sound a bit too niche to do well, and maybe that will prove to be the case, but young adults who aren't interested in reality shows or true crime are a demographic that the FTA broadcasters aren't doing a great job of appealing to imo. It seems like the addition of anime, along with some of the US imports they've announced for the platform already, might be an attempt from ITV to tap into that market. Personally I've never really got that much into anime but I love animation in general, so I'll happily give it a go on ITVX.

[adamiow]

ITVX can't be any worse than ITV Hub! It is such a pain to not have a watchlist and frequently loses track of how far I've got watching a show. I am pleased I only watch a couple of shows a year on it.