Alexander Bastin
Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) has reorganised and rebranded its studios operations, previously known as NENT Studios, as Viaplay Studios. Viaplay Studios will focus primarily on delivering original content for NENT Group’s fast-growing Viaplay streaming service, which will be available in at least 15 countries by the end of 2023. The new organisational set-up is effective immediately.
Viaplay Studios comprises NENT Group’s Swedish production companies Brain Academy and Nice Drama, which are currently in the process of merging into a single entity named Viaplay Studios Sweden, that will produce original content exclusively for Viaplay. Viaplay Studios is also home to Viaplay Studios Animation, previously called NENT Animation, which will produce animated content exclusively for Viaplay.
Paprika Studios, a Central & Eastern European-focused production company headquartered in Budapest and with a presence in nine markets, will operate as part of Viaplay Studios while retaining its current structure and branding. Paprika Studios will continue to work with third-party productions. Viaplay Studios will also manage NENT Group’s UK-based joint venture with FilmNation Entertainment and investment in Los Angeles-based studio Picturestart.
Alexander Bastin, previously CEO of NENT Studios, has been appointed CEO of Viaplay Studios. At the same time, Alexander Tanno, previously CEO of Nice Drama, has been appointed CEO of Viaplay Studios Sweden, and Helena Sandermark, previously CEO of Brain Academy, has been appointed Head of Production at Viaplay Studios Sweden. Jens Köpsén and Akos Erdos will continue in their current roles as VP & Head of Viaplay Studios Animation and CEO of Paprika Studios, respectively.
“Our reorganised studios business will be key in fuelling Viaplay’s growth in the years to come. Viaplay Studios already has an outstanding slate of upcoming Viaplay Originals, including Lasse Hallström’s ‘Hilma’ and Adi Hasak’s ‘The Box,’ and we are now set up to deliver even more unique stories. This is an important step in securing Viaplay’s long-term content pipeline while providing a home for the most talented creators and producers in the Nordic region and beyond,” Alexander Bastin commented.
Titles produced by companies now part of Viaplay Studios include “Midnight Sun,” “The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared,” “Thicker Than Water,” “The Perfect Patient,” and “Max Anger,” recently nominated for the Best European Drama Series award at the Festival de la Fiction TV.
In July, NENT Group announced an agreement to sell 12 production companies operating across non-scripted, scripted and factual content to Fremantle. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of this year, when NENT Group will report the financial impact of the transaction. The sale of NENT Studios’ UK distribution business to All3Media was completed in June.