Sky inks landmark European Showtime deal

Sky and CBS have agreed a European deal that sees the pay TV operator take exclusive rights to Showtime programming across its regional footprint.

The programming pact, hailed as one of the most important ever for Sky and the most significant international deal ever for CBS’ Showtime, gives Sky all of premium cable net’s original content for its Atlantic channels in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Austria and Germany, adding to the HBO fare already on there on an exclusive basis.

Sky has previously licensed Showtime series on an ad-hoc basis and the pair also coproduced Gothic horror Penny Dreadful, but the new deal gives Sky Atlantic all of the US channel’s content.

The agreement covers all new Showtime series, meaning that Sky gets shows such as buzzy Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti high-finance drama Billions (pictured), as well as the much-hyped Twin Peaks reboot.

Sky also gets the new runs of existing Showtime series including Ray Donovan and The Affair.

Catalogue titles from the cable net including Californication, Dexter, Nurse Jackie and the original Twin Peaks are also included, and Sky’s 21 million European subs will be able to watch them on-demand.

Any pre-existing rights deals for Showtime shows in the Sky territories remain in place.

“This is one of the most important content deals Sky has ever agreed,” said Gary Davey, managing director, content, Sky. “The agreement means our customers can enjoy an incredible slate of upcoming new dramas like Billions, Twin Peaks and also explore hundreds of hours of amazing series such as Dexter, Californication, The Affair and House of Lies on demand from the back catalogue of one of the world’s most exciting pay TV networks.”

Armando Nuñez, president and CEO, CBS Global Distribution Group, said: “This is the most significant international deal in the history of Showtime. Showtime CEO David Nevins and his team have built an incredible roster of award-winning, critically acclaimed programming. This deal shows how robust and profitable Showtime has become as a stand-alone product and revenue stream.”