BBC Studios closes deal to license content, including ‘Sherlock,’ to Chicken Soup for the Soul

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BBC Studios has finalized a licensing deal with Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment to bring select programming to Crackle Plus and its various ad-supported streaming video platforms including Crackle, Popcornflix and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Starting in April 2022, 300 hours of BBC Studios content will be available as part of the deal, with more content added each month.

Chicken Soup also inked a deal to acquire the exclusive streaming rights to the popular BBC series “Sherlock.”

Crackle was originally known as Grouper when it was acquired by Sony Pictures Television and rebranded as Crackle. For a time, it was known as Sony Crackle. It also incorporated content from other SPE brands, including “Jeopardy!”

SPE sold a majority stake in the venture to Chicken Soup for the Soul, which would eventually buy the remaining portion of the company.

Crackle Plus is an umbrella brand for the various streaming services offered by Chicken Soup, including both the standalone Crackle and Chicken Soup for the Soul platforms plus film focused Popcornflix and Truli, which specializes in faith-based content.

It also owns a creator platform called Pivotshare.

Crackle remains the home to a wide range of content and it, along with Chicken Soup, Popcornflix and Truli, feature free licensed and original content that’s supported by non-skippable advertising.

Despite the “Plus” name, there is no cost to subscribe to Crackle.