ITVX is set to add a hefty dose of reality TV and guilty pleasure to its lineup, thanks to a new partnership with Hayu, the popular all-reality streaming service.
This summer, UK viewers will see a significant expansion of ITVX’s Premium tier, with the introduction of ‘Hayu Select‘ – a curated collection of some of America’s most talked-about reality shows.
Fans of drama-filled series like The Real Housewives and celebrity-focused shows such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians, will soon be able to access a selection of these programs through their ITVX Premium subscription, at no extra cost.
Unlike BritBox and Studio Canal Presents, which are also included in ITVX Premium – Hayu Select will not feature Hayu’s full library (see below for more differences between the two).
If you need a refresher, ITVX is ITV’s free streaming service that launched in December 2022, replacing the older ITV Hub.
It offers a free, comprehensive library of on-demand content, including original series, films, and live TV channels.
The service is accessible on a wide range of streaming devices, including smart TVs, streaming sticks, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.
As a primarily ad-supported platform, ITVX allows viewers to access most of the content without a subscription. However, for those seeking an enhanced, ad-free experience, ITVX also offers a premium tier.
What Is ITVX Premium?
ITVX Premium is the subscription-based tier of ITVX, priced at £5.99/month or £59.99 per year. This tier provides several benefits to subscribers:
1. Ad-free viewing of most of ITVX’s content
2. Access to the entire BritBox catalogue, featuring a wide range of British TV shows and films from ITV, the BBC, Channel 5 and Channel 4
3. The Studio Canal Presents collection, offering a selection of classic and contemporary films
With the new Hayu deal, ITVX Premium is set to become even more attractive to reality TV enthusiasts.
The Hayu Select Deal
The new partnership will introduce ‘Hayu Select’, a branded area within ITVX Premium.
What is Hayu?
Hayu is a standalone streaming service dedicated exclusively to reality TV and “guilty pleasure” content. Launched in the UK in 2016, it has become a popular platform for fans of the genre, offering a vast library of predominantly American reality shows.
In the UK, Hayu provides a catalogue of over 300 shows and more than 10,000 episodes of reality TV content. The service features a wide range of popular franchises including The Real Housewives, Million Dollar Listing and Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
One of Hayu’s key selling points is its same-day releases for many US programmes, allowing UK viewers to stay current with American broadcasts and avoid spoilers (ITVX Premium viewers, however, will have to wait 7 days).
Priced at £4.99/month with no long-term commitment, all content on the standalone version of Hayu is available for ad-free viewing, and users can download episodes for offline viewing on mobile devices.
The service is accessible via various platforms including smart TVs, streaming devices (such as Amazon Fire TV and Roku), Sky Glass and Stream, mobile apps, and web browsers.
Hayu is also available as an add-on for Amazon Prime Video subscribers.
Hayu Select Coming To ITVX Premium
Hayu Select on ITVX, which will be different from the “full” Hayu streaming service, will include:
- Over 750 hours of reality TV content added to ITVX Premium
- A curated selection of Hayu’s most popular franchises
- Content updates every six months
Hayu Select will feature several high-profile reality shows, including:
- Seasons 8-10 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians
- Season 1 of The Real Housewives of Melbourne
- Season 5 of Below Deck
- New episodes of series like Top Chef and Summer House, available 7 days after their international broadcast
The library is expected to join ITVX Premium later this summer
Hayu Select vs. The Full Hayu Service
While the addition of Hayu Select to ITVX Premium is another big boost to ITV’s streaming service, it’s important to note the differences between this offering and the full Hayu service.
Hayu Select on ITVX Premium will offer a curated selection of content, providing a taste of the full Hayu experience.
It will include limited seasons of popular shows, with content updates occurring every six months.
Of course, being included at no extra cost in the ITVX Premium subscription makes it an attractive add-on for existing subscribers or those considering the premium tier.
In contrast, the full Hayu service provides a more comprehensive reality TV experience. It boasts a vast library of over 10,000 episodes, offering full seasons and the latest episodes of all its shows.
Also, the standalone service is regularly updated with new episodes, often on the same day as their US broadcast.
Sasha Breslau, ITV’s Head of Content Acquisitions, commented on the new partnership: “We know many of our users love nothing more than a good reality TV series, and now they can browse some of the best and latest episodes ad-free.”
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