More than 100 territories license series following successful UK run in 2010

NBC Universal’s popular drama series Downton Abbey has been licensed to more than 100 international territories since its global premiere in the UK in September, 2010.

Sales include: Albania (Albanian Screen); Australia (Seven Network); Belgium (VRT); Croatia (HRT); Denmark (DR); Finland (YLE); Germany (SKY Deutschland); Iceland (RUV); Ireland (TV3); Israel (IBA.); Japan (Star Channel); the Middle East (OSN); Netherlands (NPO); New Zealand (Prime); Norway (NRK); Poland (TVN); Spain (Antena 3) and Sweden (SVT), among others.

The Carniva/Masterpiece co-production, whose last episode attracted 12.8m viewers (36% audience share) in the UK, launched in Spain on March 15, capturing 3.2m viewers, or 17% audience share for Antena 3.

Series writer Julian Fellowes has already been commissioned to write an eight-episode second series, due to start shooting this month.

Set in an Edwardian country house in 1912, Downton Abbey portrays the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them and stars Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Penelope Wilton.

The series was executive produced by Carnival’s Managing Director, Gareth Neame, produced by Liz Trubridge and Nigel Marchant and directed by Brian, Ben Bolt and Brian Kelly