The BBC has teamed up with rival broadcaster ITV for a new on-demand streaming service called ‘Britbox’, to be launched initially America and eventually the rest of the world.

The service is expected to arrive by March 2017, and will see both networks offer up their most popular drama series and soap operas – along with a library of classics dating back decades – for American viewers via a paid-for application. The announcement was made via a press release on Wednesday (December 14th).

“The BBC and ITV are the two most prolific content producers and broadcasters in British television — both known for their unrivalled, ground-breaking shows,” said Ann Sarnoff, president, BBC Worldwide North America. “BritBox will offer a streaming experience like no other, with thousands of hours of programs across a wide variety of genres.”

Fawlty TowersBritbox will mean a home for new dramas and old classics like 'Fawlty Towers'

“BritBox will offer a streaming experience like no other, with thousands of hours of programs across a wide variety of genres – some of which will be available right after their UK broadcast. This will be a must-have service for lovers of British television.”

Alongside current favourites like ‘New Blood’ and ‘In The Dark’, the BBC and ITV will make available long-running soaps like ‘Holby City’, ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘EastEnders’. In the classics library, there will be shows like ‘Brideshead Revisited’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Inspector Morse’ and ‘Fawlty Towers’.

AMC Networks, which already operates BBC America as a joint venture with BBC Worldwide, is also on board with Britbox, taking a non-voting minority stake.

“The BBC and ITV each have a long history of creating spectacular premium content and some of the most iconic shows on television,” said AMC’s president Josh Sapan. “We are delighted to expand our current partnership with BBC Worldwide and view this investment as a strategic opportunity for AMC Networks to participate in a digital platform dedicated to offering shows of the highest quality.”

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