Beta Film has announced extensive international distribution deals for “Rex – Vienna Calling,” the newest iteration of the long-running “Rex – A Cop’s Best Friend” franchise, coinciding with the start of production on its second season.
The series has found buyers across multiple continents and regions. In Europe, deals have been secured with SBS in Australia, Rai in Italy, TV 2 in Denmark, Alpha TV in Greece, HRT in Croatia, Planet TV in Slovenia, STVR in Slovakia, Nova in Bulgaria, and TVR in Romania. Baltic coverage includes agreements with Duo Media Networks in Estonia, SIA Tet in Latvia, and LNK in Lithuania. Additionally, Action Channel in Japan and SHANT TV in Armenia have joined the distribution lineup, with further negotiations ongoing.
These sales highlight the enduring appeal of the franchise in an evolving on-demand landscape. According to analytics firm PlumResearch, mature streaming markets are transitioning from chasing temporary hits to building sustained viewing habits, with audiences frequently engaging with content over extended periods rather than focusing solely on new releases.
The “Rex” brand has demonstrated remarkable longevity over three decades, spawning various local adaptations. A notable example is the Canadian remake “Hudson & Rex,” another Beta title that was recently renewed for a tenth season.
Starring Maximilian Brückner as detective Max Steiner, the show follows his partnership with a German Shepherd named Rex as they solve crimes throughout Vienna. Six new feature-length episodes are currently being filmed at prominent locations in the Austrian capital.
The first season delivered strong ratings, attracting nearly 1.6 million viewers on Germany’s SAT.1 with a 7% overall share and 9.9% among viewers aged 14 to 49. In Austria, the episodes averaged 701,000 viewers and a 27% share on ORF. The Italian premiere on Rai 2 drew over 750,000 viewers with a 5.6% share, rising above one million when on-demand and catch-up viewing figures were included.
Produced by MR Film in co-production with SAT.1 and ORF, the series is backed by FISAplus, the Austrian Television Fund, and the state of Lower Austria. Beta Film handles worldwide distribution.
I wonder if the Japanese buyer, Action Channel, will dub it or just subtitle? Love seeing European procedurals travel that far.
Seven percent in Germany is solid, but twenty-seven percent share in Austria is insane. This franchise runs deep.