SkyShowtime preps Stallone, Ford originals as it goes lives in Nordics and Europe

Tulsa King makes its debut in December

Streaming service SkyShowtime has officially launched across Europe with a slate of new scripted series, including upcoming shows starring Hollywood names Sylvester Stallone and Harrison Ford.

The SVoD is now live in the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Portugal, with the roll-out set to continue across the continent in the coming months.

Subscribers can view content from the combined catalogues of Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Paramount+, Showtime, Sky Studios and Peacock.

As well as streaming blockbuster movies such as this year’s Top Gun: Maverick and Jurassic World Dominion, SkyShowtime has invested heavily in original drama.

“Brilliant stories are essential to us,” said Monty Sarhan, CEO of SkyShowtime. “We are the next great streaming service for Europe. The breadth and depth of what we’re offering to consumers is tremendous – big franchise IP like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Halo, plus compelling stories such as The Rising and The Fear Index.

“SkyShowtime aims for a wide, broad audience, there’s something there for everyone in the family. Our content crosses genres and demographics.”

The scripted slate includes Tulsa King, premiering in December, starring Stallone as New York mafia don Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi, who builds a new crime empire in Oklahoma.

Also screening from December is The Calling, a crime drama with Jeff Wilbusch (Unorthodox) as a deeply religious Manhattan detective whose faith is tested when a routine investigation goes wrong.

Harrison Ford stars opposite Helen Mirren (The Queen) in 1923, the next instalment of the Yellowstone series, available from January.

Funny Woman also streams from January and features Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) as a beauty queen with a keen sense of humour trying to make it in London during the swinging sixties.

Shows scheduled for 2023 include Kiefer Sutherland spy thriller Rabbit Hole; conman drama Ripley with Andrew Scott (Sherlock); literary adaptation Three Women; CIA female spy thriller Lioness; and Mayor of Kingstown season two.

Executives said the platform will also add local original programming, documentaries and specials from its markets.

SkyShowtime claimed it will eventually be available in 20 European markets, with the potential to reach 90 million homes.

“We’re live in six countries now,” said Sarhan. “Some breaking news is that we’re proud to announce that from December 14 we go live in another seven countries: Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia, Slovenia and Montenegro.”

The next territories in the roll-out will be Spain, Andorra and Central and Eastern Europe. However, it will not be available in countries that already offer the Sky pay TV service, such as the UK.