SKY Sky and CBS Corporation today announced a long-term licensing agreement for Sky Atlantic to be the exclusive home to SHOWTIME's growing portfolio of programming across all its territories in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. Previously, Sky has licensed select Showtime content from CBS on a programme by programme basis.
The deal will span all new and future series including Billions, which premiered in the US with the best series debut performance ever for a SHOWTIME original series. Other new series include the return of Twin Peaks and new seasons of hits such as Ray Donovan and The Affair. The agreement also means customers will have on-demand access to an acclaimed catalogue of premium SHOWTIME programming including Californication, Dexter and Nurse Jackie.
The deal is the latest multi-territory agreement secured by Sky as it extends its market-leading offering across entertainment, sports, arts and movies. The exclusive relationship with SHOWTIME builds on Sky's position as the leading partner for US content creators in Europe. Alongside an expanding portfolio of the best shows from the US and around the world, Sky is also growing its investment in original production which includes a successful partnership with SHOWTIME to co-produce the gothic horror series, Penny Dreadful.
For CBS Corporation, this is the largest and most expansive international deal to date for SHOWTIME and the first time its content portfolio has been licensed to a single media company across multiple European territories. It also marks a significant next step in the company's global expansion strategy to distribute SHOWTIME's prestigious brand and broad programming slate as a bundled offering. Last year, CBS and Bell Media announced a similar exclusive agreement for SHOWTIME in Canada.
Beginning this year, Sky's 21 million customers will have exclusive access on Sky Atlantic to all future SHOWTIME series, such as Billions, starring award-winning actors Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis, and the return of Twin Peaks (in 2017). Billions is a bold drama set in the ego-driven world of New York high finance. It was created, written and executive produced by Brian Koppelman & David Levien (Ocean's Thirteen, Rounders) and Andrew Ross Sorkin (Too Big To Fail). Following that will be the eagerly anticipated new series of the iconic Twin Peaks, widely considered one of the most ground-breaking programmes ever. Director David Lynch and original co-creator Mark Frost continue the story 25 years on, from when the quaint north-western town of Twin Peaks was left stunned after the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer.
In addition to new drama and comedy series, customers will have on demand access to the impressive SHOWTIME back catalogue of hit shows. This will include the complete box sets of series, including The Borgias, Brotherhood, Californication, Dexter, Nurse Jackie and the original Twin Peaks. In addition to viewing their favourite shows when they want, customers can watch them where they want using Europe's biggest mobile TV service, Sky Go. Customers who use Sky's streaming platforms, NOW TV and Sky Online also have access to this must-see channel live and on demand.
Alongside scripted content, Sky will have an exclusive option to take all new SHOWTIME distributed unscripted shows such as documentaries, late night and reality shows. Premiere dates for the programming may vary by country and current rights agreements with other platforms will remain unchanged.
Gary Davey, Managing Director, Content, 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 programmes 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, President & CEO, 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.'
For more information:
Sky
Press
Robin Tozer
Tel: +44 (0)207 032 0620
Email: robin.tozer@sky.uk
Analysts/ Investors
Ed Steel
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7032 2093
Email: investor-relations@sky.uk
CBS Corp.
Chris Ender
Tel: +1-818-655-1100
Email: Cender@cbs.com
Showtime Networks
Trisha Cardoso
Tel: +1-310-234-5480
Email: Trisha.cardoso@showtime.net
About Sky
Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 21 million customers across five countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.
Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of £4.9 billion. The group employs 30,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).
About SHOWTIME
About CBS Studios International
CBS Studios International is the leading supplier of programming to the international television marketplace, licensing to more than 200 markets in more than 30 languages across multiple media platforms. The Studio participates in international channel ventures, currently comprised of 18 channels in 24 languages across over 100 territories, reaching more than 70 million households worldwide. CBS Studios International also exports a diverse lineup of formats for local production around the world. The division distributes content from CBS Television Studios, CBS Television Distribution, SHOWTIME®, CBS News, CBS Films and a library of more than 70,000 hours of programming. CBS Studios International is a division of CBS Corporation.
Sky plc issued this content on 2016-01-21 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-21 13:09:26 UTC
Original Document: https://corporate.sky.com/media-centre/news-page/2016/sky-and-cbs-corporation-announce-long-term-pan-european-agreement-for-showtime-portfolio-of-programming
