'Sherlock' Huge Streaming Hit in China

'Sherlock' Huge Streaming Hit in China

Sherlock, the BBC’s update on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famed sleuth, can be seen across media platforms in the U.S. thanks to cable providers and services like Amazon Prime.

Turns out Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and The Hobbit’s Martin Freeman, also is omnipresent in China.

Five million people watched the first episode within hours on January 2 when it was streamed with Chinese subtitles on the video hosting platform, Youku.com – its most popular programme ever….

Online fan clubs of the show have attracted thousands of members. Chinese fans write their own stories to fill the time between the brief, three-episode seasons. In Shanghai, an entrepreneur has even opened a Sherlock-themed cafe.

The series is part of a current Sherlock Holmes renaissance. Robert Downey, Jr. starred in two successful films as the famed detective, and the CBS drama Elementary offers a modern-day take on the character.

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.