Showtime Heads to U.K., Oz

CBS has entered two broadcast agreements with Sky Atlantic and Stan, a joint venture between Nine Entertainment and Fairfax Media, to bring Showtime to the U.K. and Australia, respectively.

The deal with Sky will span all new and future series, including “Billions,” which premiered in the U.S. with the best series debut performance ever for a Showtime original series. The agreement also means Sky customers will have on-demand access to Showtime shows such as “Dexter” and “Nurse Jackie.”

This is CBS' largest and most expansive international deal to date for Showtime and marks the first time the network's content has been licensed to a single media company across multiple European territories.

“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,” says Armando Nuñez, president and chief executive officer, CBS Global Distribution Group. “Showtime chief executive officer 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 standalone product and revenue stream..”

CBS has also partnered with Stan to bring future Showtime series and programming to the Australian streaming service. Stan will also be provided with an exclusive license to the Showtime brand and trademark, making it the official home of the network in Australia.

CBS’ deal in Australia also expands beyond Showtime. Stan will also feature CBS shows including every episode of “Star Trek,” “Madam Secretary,” “Under the Dome,” “Limitless” and more.

“The growth of SVOD services internationally has created a huge demand for premium content globally,” says Nuñez. “Showtime’s prestigious brand and growing portfolio of programming align perfectly with this marketplace. We’re excited to expand the international footprint of Showtime in a big way in Australia with Stan, and build on our relationship with their corporate parents Nine Entertainment and Fairfax Media.”