South Africans have spent a lot of time indoors over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chances are, you’ve likely recycled through the majority of content available on Netflix, Showmax and DStv. If you’re feeling bored with their offerings, a new streaming service will soon launch in South Africa which may add some variety to your viewing.

Britbox is an ad-free subscription streaming service by ITV and BBC Studios and offers the best of British television as well as live stream events and original commissions.

The English streaming service hosts popular shows like Downton Abbey, QI, Mr Bean and the original The Office series starring Ricky Gervais.

The streaming service launched in the US in 2017 and since then has extended to the UK,  Australia and Canada. The platform announced in 2020 that it plans to launch in 25 new countries, including South Africa.

“We know that South African audiences have a real connection to British television and we can’t wait to bring them even more great shows, on-demand, that we know they will love,” BBC Studios president of global distribution Paul Dempsey said, according to MyBroadband

“Both BBC and ITV have a strong existing relationship with South African TV audiences, with a high demand for British content already witnessed through channels ITV Choice and BBC First; the launch of BritBox in South Africa will enable viewers to continue watching their favourite British dramas following the recent closure of both TV channels. ,” the streaming service said, according to BusinessTech.

Subscription pricing for the new platform has not yet been released, and will likely be announced closer to the platform’s launch in the second half of 2021. In the UK, customers pay £5.99 per month (about R120).

This may be a welcome subscription, especially after DStv announced price hikes across all their subscription packages.

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