Netflix takes global rights to RTVE drama

Streaming giant Netflix has acquired rights to Spanish sci-fi drama El Ministerio del Tiempo.

Netflix subscribers will be able to access the series in 2017 in 190 territories worldwide. In Spain, it airs on RTVE’s public channel La 1.

El Ministerio del Tiempo (The Department of Time) has been likened to BBC family drama Doctor Who, and despite initially struggling in the ratings against tough competition in Spain has gone on to become a popular and critical success.

Onza Distribution sells the format rights to the show, with RTVE’s international sales unit shopping the finished tape.

In Mexico, the series was last year sold to Grupo Televisa-owned SVOD service Blim as part of a wider content agreement with the Netflix rival. Other deals have previously been agreed in Europe and China.

The show’s creator, Onza Entertainment, is reportedly in the throws of suing NBC and Sony Pictures Television over new season series Timeless, claiming it takes elements of El Misterio del Tiempo