ITV’s streaming service, ITVX, just got a secret content boost – ahead of schedule – with a library of 400+ premium films and TV shows from the vaults of Studio Canal that you can watch right now.
The added content includes films such as Paddington 1 and 2, the new Evil Dead reboot, classics like Apocalypse Now, TV shows like Hannibal (the prequel series to The Silence of the Lambs), all eight series of popular French procedural Spiral and much more.
There are two catches, however – the new library is only available to ITVX Premium subscribers, and – the only way to get to those titles, for now – is by searching for them directly (Update: that has now changed – see more below).
A month ago, ITV announced that Studio Canal Presents – a streaming service that includes international classics and modern British co-productions – will become a part of ITVX Premium.
Originally, ITV said that Studio Canal’s library would be added to ITVX “in the spring”. Well, technically we’re already in the spring (grey weather outside notwithstanding) – and Studio Canal’s content has been quietly added to ITVX this weekend, possibly as part of a “soft launch”.
What Is ITVX Premium?
ITVX, ITV’s new streaming app which replaced ITV Hub, is first and foremost a free-to-watch (with adverts) service that includes catch-up content as well as box-sets and exclusive shows.
It launched with more than 10,000 hours of on-demand content, including 35 flagship shows, 200+ series and 250+ films, with more content being added every week (here’s what’s coming to ITVX in April).
ITVX is available on most of the streaming devices in the UK (including, as of February, Sky Q) – though it’s missing from a few older Freeview and Freesat boxes, as well as older Smart TVs, and – as we recently reported – it will soon stop working on older iPhones.
Alongside the on-demand content, you can also stream all of ITV’s live channels via the app, as well as several “themed” ad-supported live channels that are dedicated to a single series or theme – although ITVX’s live channels are NOT available on Freeview Play devices and some Smart TVs.
In addition to the free tier, ITVX has an optional Premium tier that removes most (but not all) of the adverts and gives you access to the entire content library of BritBox, which includes more than 4,000 hours of classic British shows and films, including 600+ classic Doctor Who episodes.
As we previously reported, BritBox no longer offers standalone subscriptions to new subscribers, and is instead sending people to ITVX’s Premium tier.
ITVX Premium costs £5.99/month or £59.99/year.
The newest perk for ITVX Premium subscribers is the addition of Studio Canal Presents – and, surprisingly – it’s already here.
Studio Canal Is Now On ITVX
Studio Canal Presents is a standalone streaming service that was already available in the UK on Apple TV and as a Prime Video Channel.
The service is owned by Studio Canal – a Canal+ company – which is a European leader in the production, distribution and international sales of feature films and series.
On its own, Studio Canal Presents costs £4.99/month.
But as of this weekend, ITVX Premium subscribers can now get it as part of their regular £5.99/month subscription, at no extra cost.
The curious part is that an official announcement hasn’t been made yet. Furthermore – there’s no mention of Studio Canal Presents on any of ITVX’s category or collection pages, or even on the homepage.
And yet – if you search directly (by title) for any of the films and TV shows that are part of Studio Canal Presents on other platforms – they’re already available to watch on ITVX, as long as you’re a Premium subscriber.
On the specific title pages, you will then finally see the Studio Canal Presents logo.
Presumably, the titles were added as part of a “soft launch” of the add-on service, and to make sure they’re all there before the final addition is announced and promoted.
ITV did a similar thing with ITVX itself – when many of its films and TV shows were added to ITV Hub, long before it was actually transformed into ITVX. The launch of ITVX’s apps was also done quietly, days before the “official” launch.
The bottom line? If you’re an ITVX subscriber, you now have 400+ premium TV shows and films you didn’t have until a few days ago.
This partnership gives ITVX Premium viewers access to a curated selection of films and series from Studio Canal’s extensive library, including family favourites like Paddington and Paddington 2, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, and The Railway Children starring Jenny Agutter.
The service also features award-winning homegrown and international films such as Legend starring Tom Hardy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy starring Gary Oldman, Non Stop starring Liam Neeson, The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Apocalypse Now starring Marlon Brando, David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, The Lost City of Z starring Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson, and more.
In terms of TV shows, the service holds the rights to TV series such as Hannibal, hip-hop drama All the Way Up (which broke streaming records upon its launch on Canal+ in France) cult Danish thriller Below the Surface and more.
Thanks to Studio Canal, ITVX subscribers now even get a few shows that originally aired on the BBC, such as Trust Me starring Jodie Whittaker and Russell T Davies’ dystopian drama Years and Years.
How Do I Find Studio Canal Presents’ Content On ITVX?
Soon, ITVX will surely add a separate collection page for all of Studio Canal’s library.
- April 6 Update: ITVX has now added a dedicated Studio Canal Presents page, where you can see all the available premium content.
Remember though that if you’re NOT subscribed to ITVX Premium – you’ll see a lock that says “Watch With Premium” – as these titles are only available to this who pay for the optional premium tier.
Since Studio Canal Presents is also available as an Amazon Prime Video Channel, you can also use the collection there, to know what to search for on ITVX.
And if you want to see the complete list – it’s available on content-listing website JustWatch – which has a list of the entire Studio Canal Presents library.
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