In 1977 and 1978, Fawlty Towers was sold to stations in 17 countries.
That figure comes from the sitcom’s early international sales record: the original programme was bought by 45 television stations across 17 countries during those two years. The BBC considered it a major overseas success and its best-selling international programme for that year.
The show’s export history was not identical everywhere. Fawlty Towers became popular in most markets where it aired, but Spain initially reacted badly to Manuel, the Spanish waiter played by Andrew Sachs. In some dubbed versions, Manuel’s nationality was changed to Italian; in Catalonia, he was presented as Mexican.
The number 17 refers to countries, not stations or episodes. It is also distinct from the programme’s total episode count: Fawlty Towers produced only 12 episodes across two series, broadcast in 1975 and 1979.