ITV Player is no more. The British broadcaster has given its streaming player a revamp, replacing player with a brand new shiny ITV Hub. But it’s not just the player that’s gone, the whole of ITV.com is now just a place to watch video, although a news site also exists. But programme-specific content has disappeared.
Taking heed from Channel 4’s All 4, ITV is attempting to bring its streaming services together, into one easily-navigable place. With a newly updated design, each of ITV’s channels are separated into different tabs, making browsing much easier. Live programming takes, unsurprisingly, centre-stage: ITV emphasises that Hub provides “instant” access to its live programmes on all devices, from mobile, PC to connected TVs. Moreover, for the first time the service is available on Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, as well as Freeview Play.
Unlike rival BBC iPlayer, The ITV Hub requires that you have a user account to watch anything. A massive frustration, but one of the ways ITV can better monetize its content by selling targeted ads.
As well as live streaming, ITV Hub also offers a range of box set titles, including Birds of a Feather, Benidorm and Thunderbirds Are Go. There’s also a limited number of catch-up episodes from the usual suspects: The X Factor, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and, of course, The Jeremy Kyle Show.
If reality TV and Simon Cowell’s high-waisted jeans don’t take your fancy, don’t worry: Family Guy and American Dad are making their way across the pond to the Hub, making it the first UK streaming service to host the shows.