James R | On 28, Nov 2016

ITV Hub is now available on Google Chromecast.

The broadcaster’s VOD service relaunched last year as a digital hub for all of its channels, including live and catch-up content. As part of a new deal with AwesomenessTV, the site will also begin hosting its own exclusive content for the first time from January 2017.

Content is nothing, of course, without an audience and ITV has been extending its reach steadily across devices, from Amazon’s Fire TV to Roku sticks and boxes. The Hub has more than 17 million registered users, with half of all 16-24 year olds in the UK registered on the service. Now, with exception of Apple TV, the app’s ticked the last big one off its list: Chromecast. With that included, ITV Hub is now available on 30 different platforms.

That means viewers can now watch their favourite ITV content, whether Coronation Street, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, or The X Factor, from their phone, laptop or tablet straight to their TV by plugging in the Chromecast device to the TV’s HDMI port.

Paul Kanareck, ITV’s Group Director of Online, says: “The ITV Hub makes viewing all of ITV’s content from our channels as easy as possible as well as watching Hub exclusives or catching up on great ITV shows. Launching the Hub on Chromecast means there are even more ways for viewers to access the Hub and we have some more exciting developments to share soon.”

Edward Kenney, Head of Chromecast Partnerships, UK at Google, adds: “With Google Chromecast, viewers can stream everything they love from The ITV Hub to the big screen, directly from their phone or tablet. We’ve seen tremendous growth in Chromecast usage in the UK, and users will be delighted at the addition of The ITV Hub to the platform.”

Indeed, Google’s dongle has proven popular with viewers, thanks to its low price point and innovative use of a phone or tablet device to control it. Chromecast Ultra even launched this autumn, adding the option to watch things in 4K.

The app is a vital addition to the Chromecast line-up, as one major deciding factor when choosing what streaming device to buy is being able to catch up with Freeview content, not just paid subscription services. With BBC iPlayer and All 4 both present, Chromecast is now missing only one Freeview VOD app: Channel 5’s My5.

Which streaming box should you buy? Read our head-to-head comparison guide – and search for what apps are available on each device – here.

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