Skip to main content

BritBox is a new streaming service for U.S. fans of British TV

United States-based fans of British TV now have another excuse to spend even more time staring at screens with the launch of BritBox.

The $7-a-month, ad-free service — the result of a partnership between the BBC and ITV — promises “the biggest streaming collection of British TV … ever” that includes a “rich catalog of classic, new, and exclusive” British-made content.

Recommended Videos

Just as with similar streaming services such as Netflix, subscribers to BritBox will be able to watch shows via iOS and Android mobile devices, Roku, AppleTV, and Chromecast, with more platforms on the way.

The new service will offer U.S. premieres of new United Kingdom dramas, including New Blood and In the Dark, as well as historical dramas Tutankhamun and The Moonstone. Season premieres include dramas such as Cold Feet and Silent Witness.

Comedy fans might want to kick off with the hit 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers, written by and starring Monty Python’s John Cleese, or The Office — that’s the original version — created by Ricky Gervais. Other classic comedies include James Corden’s Gavin & Stacey, Absolutely Fabulous, Blackadder, and Red Dwarf.

Popular period dramas such as Brideshead Revisited, Pride and Prejudice, and Upstairs Downstairs also feature on the new service, while soap fans can keep up with their favorite characters’ shenanigans in London-based EastEnders, or, if you fancy a trip up north, Yorkshire-based Emmerdale. BritBox promises episodes from both shows will land on the service within 24 hours of their broadcast in the U.K.

BritBox said the service celebrates “the very best of British TV, and offer the most comprehensive video-on-demand collection of British content in the market today,” adding, “For decades, BBC and ITV have produced iconic British television series, and for the first time these shows will be combined in a single, curated service allowing fans to find the classic shows they love and discover new hit series.”

However, a number of popular BBC and ITV shows are missing from the listings, including, for example, Doctor Who, Top Gear, Sherlock, and Downton Abbey.

If you’re interested in taking BritBox for a spin, it’s currently offering a week’s free trial. Fans of British TV would do well to compare its content with streaming service Acorn TV, which, for a slightly more competitive $5 a month, also offers a range of Brit-made shows.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
3 BritBox shows you should watch in February 2024
Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in a promo image for The Fall.

There is certainly no shortage of great American television, but if you're someone who finds yourself wanting to see what other countries are up to on the small screen, then BritBox is perfect for you. The streaming service has a range of British exports (often about crime) that will suit just about any palate.

Anyone who is familiar with British TV likely knows that British series are distinct from their American counterparts in several ways, chief among them being that the seasons are far shorter and shows can run for a long, long time. We've picked out three great shows on BritBox that are worth checking out, each of which will give you a feel for what the service can offer.
The Fall (2013-2016)
The Fall | Trailer [HD] | | Netflix

Read more
Everything coming to BritBox in August 2023
A man stands next to his wife in Next of Kin.

Summer is almost over, but most streamers still have enough content left to keep the summertime festivities going. While almost everyone knows and has Netflix or Prime Video, a select group has discovered the underrated pleasures of BritBox.

As the premiere streamer for all things British, BritBox always has compelling movies and TV shows that keep people coming back for more. August is no different, with the premieres of the acclaimed TV shows Murder Investigation Team, The Ex-Wife, and Next of Kin. There are also classic movies like A Room with a View and Another Country debuting as well. Like any other streaming service, titles come and go, so keep reading to find out everything coming to BritBox in August 2023.

Read more
Netflix kills Basic plan in U.S., U.K. as ads bring in more revenue
The Netflix logo in app.

Netflix has pared down its subscription options, starting with accounts in the U.S. and U.K. As noted by U.K. site CordBusters, the $10-a-month Basic plan is no more, at least for new subscribers. That option got you the ability to watch ad-free on a single device,  limited to 720p resolution.

The move isn't unprecedented — Netflix quietly did the same thing in Canada in June. On its pricing page, Netflix says that the change affects new and returning members. Current subscribers of the Basic plan can keep it "until you change plans or cancel your account."

Read more