LOVEFiLM Stikes Deals with BBC Worldwide and ITV
Netflix recently announced it had made a deal to offer BBC Worldwide’s content when Netflix launches in the UK and Ireland. It was, however, a non-exclusive deal as LOVEFiLM has demonstrated by jumping in and cutting a deal of their own. Amazon announced today that their LOVEFiLM service has secured a deal similar to Netflix’s for access to the BBC’s television archives.
The subscription video on-demand (SVOD) deal includes some of the greatest British programming of all time. TV titles will include the nation’s much loved Doctor Who, the critically acclaimed Life On Mars, spy drama Spooks, highly-acclaimed mini-series Whitechapel, as well as some of the public and critics’ favourite documentaries including the breath-taking Planet Earth.
Amazon and LOVEFiLM upped the ante by also announcing that they have extended their deal with ITV, the BBC’s largest commercial competitor. There have been rumors that Netflix is negotiating with ITV and there is no indication that LOVEFiLM’s content deal with ITV has been made exclusive, so don’t be too surprised if Netflix ends up with a tit-for-tat response.
The subscription video on-demand (SVOD) agreement will give LOVEFiLM members access to ITV’s vast archive of shows, including a selection of recent popular content such as Marchlands and Above Suspicion, as well as classic crime series Prime Suspect and Inspector Morse and much loved British dramas such as Cold Feet and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.