MTG eyes SVoD drama premieres

European broadcast giant Modern Times Group (MTG) wants to use its Viaplay subscription VoD service to debut new fiction series and fund a new wave of Scandinavian dramas.

Viasat, which is owned by MTG and operates the service, wants to use its array of channels to develop an alternative funding model for shows, with Viaplay debuting series first.

“We’re looking at producing and commissioning shows that would go on Viaplay exclusively, or as a premiere to be followed by a linear transmission,” said Jakob Mejlhede, MTG’s senior VP of acquisitions and programming.

Three Scandinavian dramas are being developed that could debut on Viaplay, including one crime-related series.

Mejlhede said Viasat’s channels and its position within MTG, which also owns UK distributor DRG, could mean drama productions make use of an alternative funding model to that used by other SVoD services.

“It’s a big challenge to make the next Borgen, for example, because of the size of the budget. But if we look at our scope and a different way of utilising these amazing pieces of new content – in addition to the opportunity to premiere it on Viaplay, use it on our linear channels and then distribute it – it all gives way to a new financial model.”

Mejlhede added that VoD usage in the Nordics was going through “the most fascinating explosion,” which was helping to open up new content creation opportunities for operators.

Viasat operates pay TV and free-to-air channels across Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordics, including TV3 in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark.

Viaplay is available across the region and in Russia, where it launched last year, and offers a range of acquired TV shows and sports coverage. It also makes use of Viasat’s deals with Hollywood studios including NBCUniversal International and Twentieth Century Fox Television for its film content.