DCI, Nordic World agree CBC pact

US-based distributor Digital Content International (DCI) and Scandinavian partner Nordic World (NW) have agreed their first coproduction and distribution deal as a joint entity.

Espen Huseby

The agreement with Canada’s CBC will see NW-DCI working across the broadcaster’s international programme sales.

NW-DCI will also provide CBC with access to expertise in international coproduction finance and programme development.

The deal comes after DCI acquired a “significant stake” in sales house NW in October, with the latter’s dramas, formats and documentaries increasing their international footprint through DCI’s global distribution network.

NW remains headquartered in Norway capital Oslo. Its executives, some of whom are currently based in London and New York, are joining forces with DCI’s management team.

DCI’s sales and acquisition executives currently operate exclusively in Europe, Australasia, China, Africa and Latin America.

Espen Huseby, CEO at NW, and Michel Jay Solomon, founder and chairman of DCI, said NW-DCI’s “longstanding relationships with the international production and distribution communities will be a formidable asset for CBC.”

Michel Bissonnette, exec VP of CBC, added: “The industry is changing at a very rapid rate and business models need to be adapted on a daily basis. In this context, we believe we all need to work together to ensure the quality and diversity of original Canadian content. And it is for this reason that we have entered a new form of partnership with independent producers.”