ITVX, the brand new streaming service from ITV that’s replacing ITV Hub, is finally rolling out to Freesat devices, with hundreds of thousands of additional users now gaining access to it.
However, many Freesat users with the older Humax Freesat boxes will not be able to join the celebrations, as those boxes – where ITV Hub is no longer working – won’t be getting ITVX (see the full list below).
Since its “soft” launch on November 17, ITVX has been gradually rolling out to various devices – from streaming sticks like Roku, certain Smart TVs and even Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
But today (December 8) is the “official” launch date, which means the final roll-out is finally coming to Freesat (along with Freeview, later today).
Customers with the 4K Freesat boxes, should be seeing their ITV Hub app “transform” into ITVX throughout the day, without having to do anything manually.
If you don’t see the ITVX app on your 4K box (and you’re still seeing ITV Hub), it sometimes helps to restart the box by unplugging it and then plugging it back in.
We’ve also heard of some occasions where the ITV Hub icon is still showing, with ITVX launching when you actually run the app – so try that as well (and the icon should switch over to ITVX at some point).
What Is ITVX?
ITV’s new streaming app, ITVX, is a free-to-watch (with adverts) service that’s replacing the long-running ITV Hub app, and is meant to be a full-fledged streaming service.
ITVX is launching with more than 10,000 free (with adverts) hours of on-demand content, including 35 flagship shows, 200+ series and 250+ films.
In addition to 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 (including a British Sign Language channel).
While ITV is focusing heavily on the ad-supported free tier, ITVX also has a paid Premium tier, which removes all the adverts when you’re watching on-demand content.
Premium tier subscribers will also get access to the entire content library of BritBox, which includes more than 4,000 hours of classic British shows and films.
The Premium tier currently costs £5.99/month or £59.99/year.
What Can I Watch On ITVX?
ITVX includes a mix of classic British dramas and reality shows from ITV’s archives, classic and newer blockbuster films, American TV shows from Warner, Paramount and others, as well as exclusive original productions.
At least one flagship show will launch on ITVX per week, sometimes months before it airs on ITV’s linear channels.
Some of those premiers include Russell T Davies’ Nolly starring Helena Bonham Carter (which will be coming in February 2023), powerful period drama The Confessions of Frannie Langton starring Karla-Simone Spence, Litvinenko starring David Tennant and Mark Bonnar, and the hotly anticipated cold war series, A Spy Among Friends, which is now available in its entirety.
In addition to 35 flagship shows premiering and streaming exclusively on ITVX, the service will also be launching full series’ of upcoming ITV shows on their first day of broadcast, allowing viewers to binge-watch.
Early examples of this include the real-life drama Stonehouse starring Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes and the new series of Unforgotten.
If you’re into films, ITVX will feature the UK’s largest free film library, with the likes of Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Daniel Day Lewis, Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Lawrence, Sir Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins and even The Muppets.
As mentioned, paying subscribers who sign up for ITVX’s Premium tier will also get 6,000 hours of classic British content from BritBox.
Some of BritBox’s content highlights, from the archives of the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, include 600+ episodes of the classic Doctor Who as well as a long list of classic British series and films.
Do note, however, that ITVX Premium subscribers will not be able to access BritBox’s standalone app, which will remain separate for now. Instead, BritBox’s content will simply appear as a premium category on the ITVX app.
ITVX On Freesat – Not Everyone Can Get It
As we previously reported, ITVX won’t work on many older devices – including some Freesat boxes, Smart TVs and Freeview recorders.
This was already evident a few months ago, when ITV Hub stopped working on those older devices.
This is due to ITV upgrading the content protection technology on its streaming platform, which makes both ITV Hub, and the new ITVX app, incompatible with some older devices – including Humax’s Freesat boxes.
Until 2020, Humax ruled the Freesat world – but eventually, they stopped making Freesat boxes. At that point, Freesat launched a new set of boxes from Commscope (formerly Arris) – both regular and recording boxes that also support 4K.
And, since Humax’s older Freesat boxes can no longer be updated with the new software requirements – ITVX won’t work on them.
The affected models, which will not be getting ITVX (and where ITV Hub no longer works), are:
- Humax Hb1000s
- Humax Hdr1000s
- Humax Hdr1010s
- Humax Hdr1100s
- Humax Hb1100s
In addition, Panasonic TVs from 2015 and earlier with built-in Freesat, as well as first-generation Freesat boxes, also don’t support ITVX.
It’s important to note that Freesat users with the affected Humax boxes won’t be losing access to ITV’s linear channels, and those will continue to air as they do now on your device. But the streaming app, ITVX, won’t work.
If you have the newer 4K Freesat boxes, however – then congratulations, ITVX should now be available on your device.
Like everything else, it’s all a big con to extract as much money as possible. We put up with the ads on ITV, 4 & 5 for years, now all the new content has to be subscribed to.
Also, I bought a Humax HDR1100S and that has had ITV hub removed and no ITV X app now.
They do this just to sell newer equipment !
Total rip off !!!!
I’ve a Sony TV which is still displaying the ITV hub, but I can’t get the ITVX to display. Why is this?
It’s the way they’re getting into payment only in the future.
MY wife contacted talktalk about itvx they say it’s down to itv if and when they decide to up date the app it also looks like this will only happen to second generation Youview boxes only so only new customers get the second generation boxes so unless talktalk gives older customers second generation boxes very few talktalk customers will get itvx not good.
BT pro stream box not got ITVX yet
Thy say it will be sometime it will within the next new weeks. I guess not before Christmas if it was thay would say within days
I have aBT pro stream box hope to Have ITVX As at this moment its still ITV hub
Think it’s pretty bad that alot of tvs won’t connect to itvx ,I’m certainly not going to buy a new TV so will go without my itvhub/itvx.A lot if people will be in the same position.
Surely with technology today itv could have come up with something.
Yes. Unfortunately I am one of those who will not be able to get the ITVX channel because my Humax freesat box, and most probably the TV, are to old to stream this. I was getting the ITV Hub with no problems. What a money making game this is !!!
My LG 65” OLED is barely 18 months old
Freesat is average quality
The itv x & Channel 5 app both now just show the adverts with no programs
Last week it all worked fine !!
It appears the software on my TV has been updated in the night at some point and this is now maybe the reason why we can’t watch both programmes
Hi itvx is available on my pad and phone but on our Youview box or our TV with Freeview on asking talktalk that supplies our Youview box only 2nd generation boxes will be able to have the itvx app out Freeview TV how ever will not get an upgrade I have watched itvx on my pad and the amount of adds is unreal.
Not on Sky Q
It is now 😄😄
We have a Panasonic 58ex700 which is 4 years old I’ve been in touch with ITVX and still no app I have tried always to receive it waiting for ITVX to get back to me
The new ITVX looks great, it’s a massive improvement to the hub and it looks awesome too!
Only thing is I’ve noticed a lot of content now says it’s for premium only, so where as I do feel the whole ITVX is a huge improvement, it also seems like they’ve combined it to try get people to subscribe to them more by seeing regular content that can’t be played lol
It’s so random how it’s rolled out too as we have three firesticks in the home, two which are 4K max we bought recently and one of the 4K max sticks updated to ITVX about a week ago and the other updated yesterday (both bought at the same time with the more recent Amazon account being the one that got the update first).
I do hope they have less content locked though, as much as I get it and understand them doing this it could get a bit frustrating for people seeing lots of content they can’t watch unless they subscribe.
When push comes to shove though, it’s a massive improvement, the app looks nice and navigates well with the additional bonus of the TV guide being more accessible which is great!! 😊