Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

ITV sells stake in BritBox International to BBC Studios for £255m

(Sharecast News) - ITV said on Friday that it has sold its entire 50% stake in streaming service BritBox International to its joint venture partner BBC Studios for £255m in cash. The broadcaster said net proceeds of around £235m will be returned to shareholders through a share buyback which it expects to launch imminently after the full-year results on 7 March.

ITV said the sale reflects its strategy "of focusing on supercharging its UK advertiser-funded streaming service, ITVX and growing its global Studios division".

Under the terms of the agreement, ITV Studios will continue to receive an ongoing revenue stream from BritBox International similar to current levels for the use of ITV content under new extended licensing agreements.

BritBox UK is unaffected and will still feature BBC content as part of separate long-term agreements.

Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "The move cements what has been a disappointing BritBox journey for the group. The decision will help to streamline ITV's focus as it continues with efforts to offset the structural decline in broadcast with its ad-funded streaming service, ITVX and the Studios business.

"There are a lot of the right ideas circulating, and this cash injection will help steady the ship, but there isn't quite enough proof in this pudding yet."

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

AFC Energy inks deal to supply fuel cells to Niftylift
(Sharecast News) - Hydrogen power generation technology developer AFC Energy announced an agreement to supply its S Series fuel cell modules to Niftylift UK on Monday.
WH Ireland in talks with Zeus Capital about sale of capital markets arm
(Sharecast News) - Financial adviser WH Ireland confirmed on Monday that it is talks with UK investment bank Zeus Capital about the potential sale of its capital markets division.
Kefi shares pop on official launch of Tulu Kapi
(Sharecast News) - Kefi Gold and Copper officially launched the Tulu Kapi Gold Mines (TKGM) project in Ethiopia on Monday.
Sajid Javid reportedly in talks to join Shein ahead of London IPO
(Sharecast News) - Singapore-based fast fashion retailer Shein has reportedly approached the former chancellor Sajid Javid about joining the company ahead of its rumoured listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.