Ex-HBO Nordic drama chief returns to SVT

Göran Danasten has resurfaced at SVT, taking a new programming role at the Swedish public broadcaster, TBI has learned.

Danasten is well-known in international TV circles, having previously run the drama acquisitions department at SVT for several years, picking up numerous big ticket drama series including Downton Abbey and Mr Selfridge.

He left the broadcaster in 2013 after a career spanning more than two decades, to become senior VP, series, at HBO’s OTT service HBO Nordic.

Having left HBO, he has taken a newly-created role at SVT, working out of its SVT Umeå office in northern Sweden.

SVT Umeå is the pubcaster’s main production unit in the north of the country. In the new position, Danasten will exec produce some of SVT’s upcoming fact-ent series that will go out this year and next.

He will also work across development and build relationships with prodcos outside of SVT, marking shift for the broadcaster, with its Umeå output having previously been mostly in-house produced.