Sky & CBS Corporation Ink Long-Term Pact for Showtime

LONDON: Sky and CBS Corporation have entered into a long-term licensing agreement that sees Sky Atlantic become the exclusive home of Showtime programming across the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy.

Sky previously licensed select Showtime content from CBS on a program-by-program basis. The new arrangement will span all new and future series, including Billions, the return of Twin Peaks and new seasons of hits such as Ray Donovan and The Affair.  The pact also covers on-demand access to a catalogue of premium Showtime programming, including Californication, Dexter and Nurse Jackie.

Gary Davey, the managing director of content at Sky, commented: “This is one of the most important content deals Sky has ever agreed, cementing Sky’s position as the market-leader in Europe for world-class drama. We are enormously proud that Sky will be the exclusive home to new Showtime programs for many years to come, building on a relationship that has grown over time including producing three successful seasons of Penny Dreadful together.  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, the president and CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group, said: “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. 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.  We look forward to working with our outstanding partners at Sky to present Showtime to its customers across Europe and on a wide range of their platforms.”