ITV has announced a new subscription on-demand service which allows ex-pats and holidaymakers to stay up to date with Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
Episodes of both shows will be available for 30 days after their UK transmission and will be streamed ad-free in return for a €5.49 per month subscription.
The ITV Essentials service will initially only be available via Wifi at itvessentials.co.uk but ITV says native iPad and iPhone apps are “coming soon.“
At launch it’ll be available to fans in Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Gibraltar, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Spain and UK residents can sign-up before leaving home.
The service, developed for ITV by Saffron Digital, is part of the broadcaster’s long-term strategy to test new business models and monetise content.
ITV’s Controller of Pay and Distribution, Neale Dennett, said: “This is a landmark deal for ITV. We are thrilled that we can now deliver the UK’s favourite soaps to the millions of British fans living and visiting abroad. In Saffron Digital we have found the perfect partner to bring these ambitions to life.”
Saffron Digital’s President, Jason Keane said: “This is an elegant solution to finding ways to reach more soap fans across Europe. ITV have really raised the bar with this initiative and we are thrilled to be the launch partner on this unique service.”