Stan signs multi-year content deal with premier US network Showtime

AUSTRALIAN Netflix will face its biggest threat yet with one of its competitors signing a significant deal that will see Netflix lose out.

AUSTRALIAN Netflix will face its biggest threat with competitor streaming platform Stan signing a multi-year content deal with premium US network Showtime.

Showtime is HBO’s biggest cable competitor in the US and behind hits including Homeland, Weeds, Dexter and The Affair.

The deal will offer the exclusive rights to new series Billions and the anticipated return of Twin Peaks in 2017. It also includes fan favourites such as Ray Donovan, Californication, Penny Dreadful and House of Lies.

Existing contracts for Showtime content with other platforms will remain until they expire, at which point they will be given exclusively to Stan. Showtime programming currently airs on Foxtel, Presto and Channel 10 and some of it is also streaming on Netflix.

The exclusive partnership between Stan and Showtime is a big blow to Netflix because it will lock highly talked about TV shows away from the world’s biggest streaming platform in the Australian market.

Stan chief executive Mike Sneesby said the new agreement is one of the most significant Australian content licensing deals in recent times.

“Showtime is one of the world’s greatest creators of television programming, and we are delighted to enter this long-term partnership, cementing our position as Australia’s leading local SVOD service,” he said.

“The deal with Showtime rounds out an amazing first year for Stan, with more than 1.5 million Australians having used the service across almost 700,000 subscriptions since our launch.”

This is the second licensing agreement in international markets in less than a week for Showtime, with the networking striking a similar deal with pan-European network Sky.

President of Showtime’s parent company, CBS Global Distribution Group, Armando Nunez said he was excited to be expanding into the Australian market.

“The growth of SVOD services internationally has created a huge demand for premium content globally. Showtime’s prestigious brand and growing portfolio of programming align perfectly with this marketplace,” he said.

The deal will see Aussie customers getting access to each episode of Showtime’s latest 12-part series, Billions, at the same time it is released in the US.

In addition to Showtime programming, CBS shows such as Madam Secretary, Limitless, Elementary and Under the Dome will also be added to the catalogue.

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Originally published as Stan signs multi-year content deal with premier US network Showtime