BBC Studios and ITV Win Victory Against Illegal Streaming Service UKTVEverywhere in the U.S.
New York, NY — BBC Studios and ITV Studios LLC have entered into a favorable settlement with the operators of UKTVEverywhere, resulting in the shutdown of the streaming service targeting viewers of British television in the United States, due to the illegal streaming of both entities’ respective channels.
UKTVEverywhere infringed BBC and ITV’s copyrights by live streaming the entire portfolio of BBC and ITV television channels to UKTVEverywhere subscribers, without seeking or having any form of license or authorization from either broadcaster to distribute these channels.
Under the settlement, UKTVEverywhere is forever prohibited from distributing any/all BBC or ITV television channels. UKTVEverywhere has also agreed to pay a confidential settlement sum to resolve BBC and ITV’s claims of past infringement, and will be handing over its website domain name and taking other remedial measures aimed at steering former UKTVEverywere subscribers to BritBox, the primary authorized SVOD provider of BBC and ITV content in the United States and Canada.
BBC Studios and ITV joint statement:
“As producers and distributors of premium content, we have the right and obligation to take action against piracy, in accordance with relevant laws in the territories we operate. Ensuring that our content is viewed legally, equally ensures we will be able to bring our viewers the programs they love and expect. BBC Studios and ITV both produce thousands of hours of quality British programming, which in turn gives vital employment to writers, producers, cast and crew. Illegal streaming of this content means a wide range of workers were being deprived of their rightful earnings.”
BBC and ITV – the leading public service broadcasters in the United Kingdom – each provide a range of television channels that cover many genres. The BBC’s channels include BBC One, BBC Two, BBC News and CBeebies with well known titles such as Doctor Who, Seven Worlds, One Planet and Top Gear. ITV’s channels include ITV1 to ITV4, ITVBe and CITV with well knowns titles such as Coronation Street, The Chase and Britain’s Got Talent.
https://www.bbcstudiospressroom.com/press/
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programs and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programs made by the business are internationally recognized across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Dancing with the Stars/Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Bluey. BBC Studios has offices in 22 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2,500 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Amazon and China Mobile, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for program titles. To the BBC, BBC Studios contributes both cash dividends and funds for program-making, supporting the license fee and enhancing programs for UK audiences.
In the Americas, BBC Studios manages joint venture relationships with AMC Networks for flagship channel BBC AMERICA (U.S.) – home of original series Killing Eve and global brands Seven Worlds: One Planet, Doctor Who, and Top Gear – and with ITV for SVoD service BritBox (U.S./Canada), as well as strategic partnerships in Canada with Blue Ant Media for BBC Earth Channel and Corus for BBC Canada. The company also operates a robust linear and digital content sales and co-productions operation, as well as a franchise management business. In addition BBC Studios operates two production units with team members across the regions. The primary unit in Los Angeles is responsible for ratings juggernaut and Emmy®-nominated Dancing with the Stars and multi-award-winning Life Below Zero. In Brazil, through a production partnership with Endemol Shine, local productions Dancing Brasil and Bake Off Brasil have become breakout hits.
About ITV
ITV entertains millions of people and shapes culture. We are a leading media and entertainment company, with the largest commercial television network in the UK and a global production and distribution business, with over 55 labels. Creativity, quality content and engaging audiences in the UK and around the world, is at the core of everything we do.
We reach over 40 million viewers every week with our programmes on ITV’s family of channels, as well as the ITV Hub, which is available on 28 platforms and on over 90% of connected televisions sold in the UK.
ITV Studios produced 8,400 hours of original programming last. Our global footprint spans 13 countries including the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, The Nordics, Italy and the Netherlands and our global distribution business sells our catalogue of 45,000+ hours to more than 300 broadcasters and platforms.
ITV as part of its More than TV strategy, has created a scaled Direct to Consumer business in the UK, including recently surpassing 500,000 subscribers to its ad-free catch-up service, Hub+. In November 2019 ITV launched BritBox (in the UK), a streaming service with the BBC bringing the very best in past, present and future British programming and award-winning content from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to viewers all in one place.
As the media landscape continues to change rapidly, ITV is focused on building upon its unique combination of creativity and commercial strength, transforming digitally to create a more diversified and structurally sound business.
Press contacts:
ITV
Justin Jeffreys
Head of Press, ITV Commercial and Online
+44 7759092908
justin.jeffreys@itv.com
BBC Studios
Amy Mulcair
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Events, BBC Studios
+1 646 404 0941
amy.mulcair@bbc.com