SPY DRAMA AND FOOTBALL BOOST ITV STREAMING

ITV’s streaming service was boosted by a surge in viewers tuning in to watch the World Cup.

ITVX was launched by the broadcaster in December as it looks to compete with US giants Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon.

In the month from December 8, it saw a 65pc jump in online users compared with a year earlier – when viewers had to watch programmes on ITV Hub.

Excluding the football, its viewing figures were up almost a third from a year earlier and it said growth this month has been ‘strong’. ITVX was also lifted by a strong showing for the hit drama A Spy Among Friends, starring Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce ( pictured). The service is a free streaming platform, with more than 15,000 hours’ worth of films and shows supported by advertising income.

It is set to receive a further boost when the latest series of Love Island starts on Monday. ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall said the reception for the streaming service had been ‘great’. She added: ‘The football World Cup has been an important part of that.’