Astral’s The Movie Network has renewed its long-standing supply deal for Showtime programming with CBS Studios International.

The new multi-year agreement with the U.S. cable channel extends the on-air delivery to include making Showtime series available on-demand and online.

“This multi-year deal expands upon our ability to provide this award-winning programming across multiple platforms, including The Movie Network OnDemand service and TMN OnLine, which is offered through distributors such as BellTV, Rogers and Videotron,” Kevin Wright, senior vice president of programming at Astral Television Networks, explained.

The renewal is crucial to TMN as pay TV broadcasters like Astral need prestige programming like Showtime’s Californication (pictured) and Dexter to fend off competition for TV viewers’ eyeballs from Netflix Canada, Google TV and other emerging online video streaming options.

TMN and western Canadian counterpart Movie Central, a division of Corus Entertainment, air most Showtime series via supply deals.