BritBox now available on Chromecast
David Farnor | On 24, Dec 2019
BritBox is now available on Google Chromecast.
The BritBox Chromecast app allows subscribers to view BritBox on any television with a HDMI port by adding a £30 Chromecast device. Viewers are able to use their iOS or Android smartphone to browse and select from the biggest collection of British box-sets, and then enjoy watching it on the big screen using their phone as a remote control.
The move – just in time for the busy Christmas viewing period – is a vital one for the new subscription VOD service, a joint venture from ITV and the BBC, as they look to break into a landscape dominated by BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
Reemah Sakaan, group launch director for ITV SVOD, comments: “We are rolling out more ways of watching BritBox all the time, and are thrilled to confirm our partnerships with Chromecast, Vestel and Panasonic in time for Christmas. We look forward to adding even more ways to enjoy the best of British creativity in 2020, including more FreeView Play sets, YouView devices and Amazon FireTV.’
Indeed, BritBox has also now launched on Panasonic’s premium range of televisions. It is available, too, on other smart TVs using the Vestel platform, which allows owners of Toshiba, JVC, HITACHI, Bush, Digihome, Finlux, Logik, Luxor, Polaroid, Techwood and more to access the service via an app.
“BritBox will be featured on model ranges from 2017 onwards and support for further Freeview Play compatible models will be added soon,” notes Hakan Kutlu, Vice President of Marketing, Vestel.
Helen Dixon, Head of Marketing for TV from Panasonic UK confirmed: “We are pleased to be one of the first to support BritBox with the inclusion on our premium range of TV’s in order to bring classic British television programmes to our customers’ homes, especially in time for Christmas.”
The latest TV and app launches mean that BritBox is now accessible on around 10 million devices, which represents one third of video on-demand homes. By next Spring BritBox is aiming to be available on around 20 million devices, and two thirds of video-on-demand homes.