ITVX to offer 9,000 hours for free, incl dramas, docs & true crime section

A Spy Among Friends

ITV has revealed details of its content plans for upcoming free streaming platform ITVX, which is due to launch in the UK later this year.

The UK commercial broadcaster unveiled ITVX in March, prompting a near-20% drop in its share price, and now the company has said it will house over 9,000 hours of shows including scripted and unscripted series, documentaries, “cult classics” and films for viewers to enjoy without a subscription fee.

New dramas including cold war show A Spy Among Friends starring Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce will be among a slew of shows available at launch, which will be available on the streamer for at least six months before making their debut on ITV channels.

Others include teen drama Tell Me Everything and four-part thriller Without Sin starring Vicky McClure. ITV said at least one “flagship show” will then launch on ITVX per week going forward, including Russell T Davies’ Nolly starring Helena Bonham Carter, period drama The Confessions Of Frannie Langton and Litvinenko, featuring David Tennant and Mark Bonnar.

Full series drops will also be available, including real life drama Stonehouse and the new season of Unforgotten, in addition to more than 200 recent and “classic” US and UK dramas, comedies and reality shows that will be available to users.

The docs offer includes a dedicated true crime collection, with 150 hours of shows including Monster in My Family, while the science fiction and fantasy offering ranges from classics such as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, as well as Astrid & Lilly Save the World and Korean-American series Dramaworld.

While ITVX will be available as an ad-supported option, the UK company is also offering a monthly subscription offering to remove ads. This version will also provide a further 6,000 hours of content through BritBox UK.