Everything British Worth Streaming in May 2024
It is the first of May 2024, and for the first time in maybe.... ever(?) streaming is starting to settle out. Those streaming services that will survive are pulling away from the pack. Those who will not survive are becoming obvious due to collapse or showing deeply ugly signs of distress. In the more niche world of British streaming, those committed to the premise are doubling and trebling down. At least if they don't survive, they'll have given it their best shot.
Speaking of streaming services that didn't survive, we've gotten several emails this month from readers asking about BritBox, which folded in the U.K. and was swallowed by ITVX. I want to clarify: That was ITV's BritBox in the U.K. That was not BritBox International, which we have here in the U.S. BritBox was originally one company jointly owned by ITV and the BBC when it launched in 2017. But BritBox split in two in 2022 when ITV bought out the BBC's half of the U.K. version, creating BritBox UK (ITV-owned) and BritBox International (still jointly owned).
The BBC bought out ITV's half of BritBox International two months ago, creating the BBC's BritBox and ITV's BritBox, which only lasted a few weeks. With ITV's version gone, the BBC is making its mark on BritBox, with the longest list of arrivals for the streaming service I've ever written up.
