ITVX: Nationwide Outage and New Content Acquisitions Lead February Headlines
London, 14 February 2026 – ITV’s flagship streaming service, ITVX, has experienced a turbulent week marked by a significant technical failure during a high-profile broadcast, balanced by the acquisition of award-winning international drama. As the platform continues its transition into a digital-first broadcaster, recent events have highlighted both the immense scale of its audience and the technical challenges of managing peak-time traffic.
Love Island Outage Sparks Viewer Frustration
On 10 February 2026, ITVX suffered a nationwide outage that left thousands of viewers unable to access the platform. The crash occurred at approximately 8:55 pm, just minutes before the scheduled 9:00 pm broadcast of Love Island: All Stars. The technical failure affected both the free and premium tiers, leading to a surge of complaints on social media as fans were unable to stream the live episode. Service was gradually restored later that evening, though the incident has raised questions regarding the platform’s capacity to handle “hero” content peaks.
New Acquisitions and Upcoming Releases
Despite technical setbacks, ITVX continues to expand its library with high-calibre acquisitions. The broadcaster has confirmed the UK premiere of the critically acclaimed US drama This Close. The Deaf-led series is scheduled to land exclusively on the platform on 12 March 2026. Additionally, viewers can look forward to the premiere of The Lady, a limited series starring Sarah Ferguson, which is set to debut on 22 February 2026.
Current trending titles on the service include the Oscar-winning crime drama Monster (starring Charlize Theron) and the psychological thriller Enemy, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal. Soap fans have also noted the early release of Emmerdale episodes, which recently featured a one-off return for villain Ray Walters.
ITVX Service Specifications
ITVX operates as a dual-tier service, offering a hybrid model of ad-supported free content and a paid subscription tier. Below are the current technical and service specifications for the platform.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Standard Resolution | Full HD (1080p) |
| Premium Resolution | 4K UHD (Available on supported devices) |
| Subscription Model | Free (with adverts) or Premium (ad-free) |
| Key Genres | Drama, Reality, Documentaries, Films, and News |
| Live Sport | Includes Guinness Men’s 6 Nations and major football fixtures |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is ‘This Close’ coming to ITVX?
The acclaimed drama This Close will be available to stream exclusively on ITVX starting from 12 March 2026.
Does ITVX support 4K streaming?
Yes, 4K UHD resolution is available for ITVX Premium subscribers on compatible hardware. Standard users can stream in Full HD (1080p).
Why did ITVX crash on 10 February?
The service experienced a nationwide outage minutes before the 9:00 pm airing of Love Island: All Stars. ITV has acknowledged the issue, which affected the majority of users attempting to access the live stream.
Can I watch ITV News on the platform?
Yes, ITVX provides live access to the ITV Evening News as well as dedicated regional news sections, such as ITV News West Country and UTV.