The period drama, set in the fictional Cotswold village of Kembleford, is broadcast on BBC One in the daytime.
Its popularity abroad, where it is usually screened in the evening, puts it alongside top BBC shows Doctor Who and Sherlock.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the news,” said a Corporation source.
“It’s overdue recognition for a great show.”
The sixth series of Father Brown has just concluded in the UK, where its average audience is more than two million, a third of available viewers.
All 70 of the 45-minute episodes are being shown across the globe.
They are also available on Netflix. Produced in Birmingham and filmed on location in the Cotswolds, the mysteries star Mark Williams as Father Brown, Sorcha Cusack as parish secretary Mrs McCarthy and Emer Kenny as The Honourable Penelope “Bunty” Windermere.
Father Brown was created by writer GK Chesterton and appeared in 53 short stories published between 1910 and 1936.
The Roman Catholic priest, who has a striking ability to read the criminal mind, is as concerned with bringing culprits to justice as he is with saving souls.
The BBC adaptation can now be seen in the US, Scandinavia, Germany and Australia.
Viewers in Norway, famed for “Scandi noir”, have made it the BBC’s most popular show there.
In the US, Father Brown is the only UK drama reaching more than 100 million homes in primetime through a syndication deal with the PBS channel.
Star Mark Williams remains diplomatic about whether it should receive a promotion to prime time in the UK.
He said: “We all love doing it. We’ve had more success worldwide than any other BBC drama series – but we don’t make those decisions [on scheduling].”
