European media company Sky announced this week that it has signed a long-term licensing deal with CBS Corporation to deliver Showtime programming in its European territories.
The deal gives Sky the rights to deliver all new and future Showtime series across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy, and provide on-demand access to Showtime’s back catalogue content, including popular shows like “Californication,” “Dexter” and “Nurse Jackie.” Sky previously licensed select Showtime content from CBS on a program-by-program basis.
According to Thursday’s press release, the agreement marks CBS Corporation’s “largest and most expansive” international deal for Showtime and is a “significant step” in the company’s global expansion strategy. Last year, CBS signed a similar Showtime licensing agreement with Bell Media in Canada.
“This is the most significant international deal in the history of SHOWTIME, and further signals the value and prestige of its content brand in the global marketplace,” CBS Global Distribution Group president and CEO Armando Nuñez said. “This deal shows how robust and profitable SHOWTIME has become as a standalone product and revenue stream.”