NENT Studios rebrands as Viaplay Studios, with originals focus for Nordic streamer

Alexander Bastin

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) has restructured and rebranded its studio operations, NENT Studios, as Viaplay Studios.

The reorganised division will be primarily focused on creating original content for the company’s Nordic-facing Viaplay streaming service, which expects to be available in “at least” 15 countries by the end of 2023.

As part of the changes, which take immediate effect, NENT Group’s Swedish production companies, Brain Academy and Nice Drama, will also be merged into a single entity named Viaplay Studios Sweden, which will produce original content exclusively for Viaplay.

Viaplay Studios Animation, previously called NENT Animation, will also produce animated content exclusively for Viaplay. Meanwhile, Budapest-based Paprika Studios, a CEE-focused prodco, will operate as part of Viaplay Studios while retaining its current structure and branding. It will also 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 NENT Studios CEO, will continue to head up the venture as Viaplay Studios CEO, while Alexander Tanno, previously Nice Drama CEO, has been appointed Viaplay Studios Sweden CEO and Helena Sandermark, previously Brain Academy CEO, has been appointed Head of Production, Viaplay Studios Sweden.

Jens Köpsén and Akos Erdos will continue in their current roles as VP & head of Viaplay Studios Animation and Paprika Studios CEO, respectively.

“Our reorganised studios business will be key in fuelling Viaplay’s growth in the years to come,” commented Bastin. “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.”