SkyShowtime signs programming deal with Warner Bros. Discovery

SkyShowtime has acquired exclusive European rights for 21 local series from Warner Bros. Discovery.“This is a landmark deal for SkyShowtime, giving us an immediate foothold in the original programming space well ahead of plan," SkyShowtime CEO Monty Sarhan said.

The agreement will grant SkyShowtime access to 168 episodes , more than 150 hours of new and previously aired original programming. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed."As a streaming service created specifically for Europe, SkyShowtime is committed to consumers in our markets," Sarhan said. "Local programming is an important part of our strategy, and we are pleased to be the home for these new series, as well as popular shows that resonated with audiences across the Nordics, Central & Eastern Europe, and Spain.” 

The deal, including three brand-new series that have completed production, will have their world premiere on SkyShowtime in 2023.The new shows, set to be branded as SkyShowtime Originals, include ID (Finland and Sweden), The Winner (Czechia and Slovakia), and Warszawianka (Poland). Additionally, SkyShowtime will also premiere the second season of Por H o Por B (Spain). The first season of Por H o Por B will also be on the service. Premiere dates for these shows will be announced at a later date. In addition to the nine new and current shows, multiple seasons of 12 successful series from HBO Max debut exclusively on SkyShowtime beginning in March 2023.

Other popular shows acquired in the deal include several series that recently premiered on HBO Max but will now have their exclusive home on SkyShowtime. The titles are "Beartown" in Sweden, "Beforeigners" in Norway, "Kamikaze" in Denmark, "Lust" in Sweden and "The Informant" in Hungary. SkyShowtime will retain the option to acquire worldwide rights on any renewed shows as well as the option to order new seasons for several shows.

The titles include "Czech It Out!" in Czechia, "Foodie Love" in Spain, "Hackerville" in Romania, "No Activity" in Spain, "One True Singer" in Romania, "Pray, Obey, Kill" in Sweden, "Ruxx" in Romania, "Success" in Croatia, "Todo Lo Otro" in Spain, "The Sleepers" in Czechia, "Tuff Money" in Romania and "Welcome to Utmark" in Norway). All of the acquired shows will be available to SkyShowtime subscribers across all of its 22 markets.

SkyShowtime, which received regulatory approval in February 2022, continues to build out its programming team across all of its markets. In addition to the shows acquired under this deal, SkyShowtime is ramping up its own original programming capabilities. Created for Europe, SkyShowtime has teams across six regional offices. Its apps and content will be available in 18 different languages across its 22 markets.

Already live in 12 markets, SkyShowtime first launched in September in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, followed by launches in the Netherlands and Portugal in November. In December, the streaming service launched in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. SkyShowtime will launch in its remaining markets of Albania, Andorra, Czechia, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Spain in Q1 2023.

In addition to local programming, SkyShowtime features exclusive television first run theatrical films, new and exclusive scripted series, kids and family content and a selection of iconic library titles and box sets from Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks Animation, Paramount+, SHOWTIME®, Sky Studios and Peacock – all streaming in one place.