BBC Studios & ZDF Renew Partnership; ITVX Hits Growth Record  — Global Briefs

BBC Studios & ZDF Renew Partnership

BBC Studios and Germany’s ZDF today announced at Content London that they’ve renewed their long-term strategic partnership on scripted content. The two broadcasters have said the multi-year deal will extend co-productions on scripted TV content, with ZDF and BBC Studios partnering to co-produce titles across the BBC Studios’ content pipeline. The new agreement also extends to first option on pre-sales and acquisitions across BBC Studios’ catalog available in Germany. Acquisitions already confirmed include Death in Paradise S13-14, Beyond Paradise S1-2, and The Outlaws S2-3. The original partnership with ZDF was forged in 2019. Ther collaborations include A Good Girls Guide to Murder, The Famous Five Series 1, Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story, and The Chelsea Detective.

ITVX Hits Growth Record 

ITV’s streaming platform ITVX has hit a new audience record, according to the broadcaster. The streaming platform has become the UK’s fast growing platform, according to figures reported by ITV. The broadcaster has said ITVX has outpaced all other major streaming platforms in terms of growth in viewer hours since its launch — with a 35% growth in viewer hours in two years, ahead of BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, Channel 4 and Amazon Prime. The biggest UK audience of 2024 was ITV’s coverage of Euro 2024 match between England and The Netherlands, which peaked with 21.6 million viewers across ITV1 and ITVX. Mr Bates vs The Post Office is the biggest drama audience of 2024 to date, with a total audience of 15.1 million. ITV has had 4 out of the top 10 new dramas in 2024. Those shows were Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Red Eye, Until I Kill You and After The Flood. BBC and Netflix both had three. Discussion today’s reported record, Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, said: “Two years on, ITVX is now firmly established as a superior streaming destination, for a wealth of must-watch content.”