Absolutely Independent


MBO for Nordic World

Espen Huseby has completed a management buy-out of Scandinavian distributor Nordic World for an undisclosed amount. This hands Huseby 100% of the Oslo-based business, which turns over around €3 million (US$3.3 million) and has a portfolio of around 600 titles. “Nordic World has been at the centre of my life – professional and personal – […]

Nordic World rejigs after ‘challenging period’

Nordic World has promoted Ann Christin Siljan and Paulina Eklund in a restructure that follows a tough period for the Scandinavian content distributor. Previously director of sales and acquisitions, Siljan (pictured) will become VP of acquisitions, while former Absolutely Independent exec Eklund will remain in New York but now as VP of sales. Both report […]

Nordic World’s Absolutely files for bankruptcy

Absolutely Independent, the Amsterdam-based formats business owned by Nordic World, has filed for bankruptcy in a Dutch court, TBI has learned. Nordic World confirmed the news today, with CEO Espen Huseby (pictured) telling TBI the company had sought every alternative, but ultimately was forced to seek a bankruptcy filing for Absolutely. “I can confirm Absolutely […]

Zodiak hires Nordic World sales exec

Nordic World is saying goodbye to another sales executive following the departure of Patty Geneste. Zodiak Rights has poached Ole Steen Stolberg as VP, sales for Scandinavia, having previously been sales and acquisitions director for TV4 Group and TV2 Norway-owned distributor Nordic World. This comes after TBI revealed Geneste was exiting Nordic World just weeks […]

Nordic World ‘disagreement’ leads to Geneste exit

Nordic World has terminated a consultancy agreement with Patty Geneste just weeks after completing a deal to acquire her formats distributor, Absolutely Independent, TBI can reveal. Geneste’s departure follows a disagreement over the future direction of Nordic World, according to a statement on behalf of the Nordic World board from Trond Kvernstrom, who is director […]

What next in the Netherlands?

From Big Brother to The Voice via Deal or No Deal and Splash! Dutch producers have proved time and again that they know how to construct an international television hit. But do deep budget cuts at the public broadcast group and the increasing influence of international content threaten the Netherlands’ status as a creative powerhouse? […]

TLC to pilot Dutch format Find My Family

Absolutely Independent’s reunion-themed format Find My Family is being pilot for US cable channel TLC. The pilot will likely go out as Long Lost Family, the same name the format employs in the UK, were it plays on commercial channel ITV. Shed Media US is producing the pilot, which will launch on Discovery Communications’ female-skewed […]

Nordic World strikes UK formats deal

Distributor Nordic World has entered into a first-look partnership with recently-formed UK format creation outfit Boxatricks. Under the deal Nordic World, which is owned by public broadcasters TV2 Norway and TV4 Sweden, will have first rights to new formats created by Boxatricks. Boxatricks was formed in September 2013 by former Celador execs Steve Springford and […]

Nordic World set to buy Absolutely Independent

Scandinavian distributor Nordic World has reached a deal to buy Netherlands-based formats house Absolutely Independent. Nordic World has signed a letter of intent that, if translated into a deal, will hand it a majority stake for an undisclosed sum. The deal is intended to close before MIPTV in April, Nordic World CEO Espen Huseby announced […]

Absolutely launching MNet formats at MIPCOM

Formats specialist Absolutely Independent will launch a slate of formats from South African pay TV broadcaster MNet at MIPCOM. Netherlands-based Absolutely has inked a representation deal with MNet and will launch formats including The Golden Dish and Minibuzz. The Golden Dish is a competitive cooking show in which teams of amateur and trained chefs compete […]