Viaplay hires Kennard Bos for originals as Netherlands launch date set

Threesome

Nordic Entertainment (NENT) Group has appointed Vincent TV’s Kennard Bos to become the first exec producer for Viaplay in the Netherlands and set a launch date for the SVOD in the country.

NENT revealed it would be launching a Dutch version of the Nordic streamer earlier this year and has now confirmed it will go live on 1 March.

The service will cost €13.99 ($15.80) per month and will be available through distribution partners such as VodafoneZiggo and KPN and as a direct subscription. It means Viaplay will be available in 11 countries, with at least five further markets to follow by the end of 2023.

More than 30 Viaplay originals will be available, including Love Me, The Box, Honour and Threesome, with local Dutch shows also in the works under Bos.

Much of the Dutch service’s focus will be on sports, with the service set to become the exclusive Dutch home for Formula 1 – which had been available via Ziggo Sports – and football from the German Bundesliga. Marco Zwaneveld has been appointed Viaplay’s head of sports in the country.

Acquired international series and films will also be available, as well as kids content.

The Netherlands expansion marks the latest new territory launch for Viaplay, which was recently rolled out across the Baltics. Last year, NENT raised more than $400m to help fund further growth, including a US launch.

Anders Jensen, NENT’s president & CEO, described the launch as “a major step” for the company.