Viaplay’s head of scripted in Norway becomes latest exec to depart Nordic streamer

Viaplay’s head of scripted content in Norway, Tanya Nanette Yildiz Badendyck, has become the latest senior exec to depart the Nordic streamer.

Badendyck had been with the company since 2018, initially joining as an exec producer before being promoted two years later to lead its drama and comedy originals in Norway.

Viaplay’s originals had surged to more than 70 each year until recently, with shows such as dystopian drama The Fortress from Maipo Film and an adaptation of politician Abid Raja’s autobiography among scripted series in the works from Norway.

However, the streamer was forced to downgrade its outlook in June as subscriber growth stalled, prompting cost cutting over the summer and a strategy overhaul.

It is pulling out of markets including the US, the UK and Poland, while its originals strategy has been rapidly streamlined with plans to only produced around 10 scripted series each year with increased focus on unscripted.

Around 25% of the workforce has been let go with numerous execs departing, including former CEO Anders Jensen, who was replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann in May.

Chief commercial officer Filippa Wallestam, factual boss Nicholas Hadley-Kamptz and Viaplay’s SVP of scripted content Camilla Rydbacken, are among others to have exited.

Viaplay’s share price has plummeted more than 80% over the past six months, with Canal+ and Czech investment outfit PPF Group among those taking stakes in the beleaguered company as it attempts to right the ship.