What Disney+ bought
Disney+ has acquired second-window rights in the UK to The Walsh Sisters, the RTÉ/BBC comedy-drama based on Marian Keyes’ bestselling book series. The show will run first on the BBC, then move to the streamer. Cineflix Rights brokered the deal and is handling international sales.
The acquisition is part of a wider sales push. Cineflix Rights has also licensed the series to TV2 in Norway, TV4 in Sweden, MTV Oy in Finland, Pickbox in the Balkans and Yes in Israel. Stan was already on board for Australia, and Roku’s Howdy streamer has taken it for the US. TVNZ and BBC Netherlands have also closed deals.
Sandra Piha, SVP, Sales, Pan-Regional, UK, Eire, and Nordics at Cineflix Rights, said audiences have “taken to heart” the family’s story.
Why a second window matters
The show arrives with a proven record: Season 1 was RTÉ’s highest-rated drama of the past two years. BBC and RTÉ have already greenlit Season 2, which is in production. That combination of local ratings and existing audience demand lowers the risk for buyers. Disney+ gets a British-Irish scripted title without carrying the cost or risk of a first-run commission.
For media planners and entertainment marketers, the second window is the useful detail. A title can now build one audience on the BBC and then surface again inside Disney+, where it may be discovered by a different, subscription-heavy audience. The show is not exhausted after its first run; it is being re-monetised in a new window.
Who is buying, where
- UK: Disney+ (second window after BBC)
- Australia: Stan
- US: Roku’s Howdy
- Nordics: TV2 Norway, TV4 Sweden, MTV Oy Finland
- Balkans: Pickbox; Israel: Yes; New Zealand: TVNZ; Netherlands: BBC
Cuba Pictures, part of Vice Studios, and Metropolitan Pictures produce for RTÉ, in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland and Cineflix Rights. Stefanie Preissner adapts the books and stars, alongside Danielle Galligan, Máiréad Tyers, Louisa Harland and others.
What to watch next
The second-window strategy is a reminder that local hits with strong IP can travel. The Walsh family story is not a mega-budget franchise, but a ratings record and a bestselling author were enough to make it sell territory by territory. Expect more regional streamers and broadcasters to look for proven local titles instead of always betting on originals.
Source: Deadline
