When BBC One cancelled their period drama, 'Ripper Street,' audiences were dismayed; petitions were even signed. It was an unpopular decision; one the corporation made because of low ratings. But a third season is now on the way, and it comes as Amazon launches a new streaming package in the UK.

Ripper StreetRipper Street was mourned when it was cancelled, but it lives again thanks to Amazon's big bucks

The BBC’s decision to pull the plug on Ripper Street wasn’t a popular choice. "The second series didn't bring the audience we hoped and in order to make room for creative renewal and new ideas it won't be returning," a spokesman told the website Digital Spy at the time.

“Dreadful news for fans of quality drama today, as the BBC has officially killed off its superior Victorian crime drama Ripper Street,” wrote The Guardian’s Julia Raeside, echoing the general opinion of unhappy TV fans.

It’s a smart move from Amazon, who is looking to take on content streaming monolith Netflix in an already crowded space. By bringing back the popular, prematurely cancelled Ripper Street (basically by financing the thing) the company has already won some fans in the U.K, where its new streaming package has launched concurrently with Germany.

In resurrecting such a loved show, Amazon are attempting to connect with audiences in the same way Netflix did with Arrested Development in the U.S; showing an understanding of what they actually want, rather than charging a monthly subscription regardless of consumer desire.

Amazon logoAmazon Prime Instant Video seems to be off to a good start

"This is an exceptional opportunity to bring back Ripper Street for a third series by working with the right partners," said the BBC's controller of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson. "This deal gives fans another series of the show they love at excellent value to the licence fee payer, ensuring that the BBC can also commission an entirely new, yet to be announced drama series."