Stan snags Sherlock deal

Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock

Australian streaming service Stan has agreed an exclusive day-and-date deal for the fourth and all future seasons of BBC detective drama Sherlock.

The arrangement with distributor BBC Worldwide will see Sherlock premiere exclusively on the SVoD service at the same time as its worldwide debut.

Stan’s deal includes all future seasons and specials of the drama and extends the streamer’s existing arrangement, which provides exclusive streaming rights to every existing episode.

The fourth run of the acclaimed drama, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, is due in 2017.

Sue Vertue, series producer for Sherlock, said Stan had “been a very supportive partner for Sherlock in Australia and we look forward to working with them on the forthcoming season.”

Nick Forward, Stan’s chief content officer, said the deal followed the success of special Sherlock: The Abominable Bride on the streamer, which had been one of its most successful exclusive premieres.

Sherlock has been sold to more than 240 territories across the world and has won 12 Baftas, seven Emmys and a Peabody Award.