Rebranded BBC Studios Nordic sees scripted potential

Following its acquisition of Scandinavian prodco STV, the rebranded BBC Studios Nordics is eyeing expansion into scripted format adaptations, according to chief Jan Salling.

Jan Salling

BBC Studios (BBCS), the commercial and production arm of the UK pubcaster, acquired pan-Scandinavian production company STV last month in an effort to build up its production capabilities in response to the growing appetite and opportunities for BBC content in the market.

BBCS and STV have an established relationship, having partnered on original property Denmark Saves the Planet for TV2 Denmark and the ongoing development of a local version of The Office. STV has been rebranded as BBC Studios Nordic Productions and its regional MD, Daniel Svarts, now reports to Jan Salling, head of BBC Studios Nordics.

BBC Studios Nordic Productions will make local adaptations of the unscripted and scripted formats in the BBCS catalogue, in addition to developing original IP for a local and global audience. BBCS will also distribute and produce STV formats outside of Scandinavia. It follows the news, exclusively revealed by C21, that BBCS and Banijay had mutually agreed not to extend the term of their local first-look agreement for unscripted formats beyond April.

“It was always our ambition to move into production in the Nordics when the opportunity and the timing were right. Becoming a fully independent local producer in Scandinavia is an important part of our growth strategy. It’s the natural step after several years of format licensing and coproduction with Banijay and others,” Salling tells C21.

Based in Copenhagen and with offices in both Norway and Sweden, STV has a track record of developing factual entertainment formats such as Big Love and Get Lost Honey and has also been the producer of local versions of shows including Wheel of Fortune, Long Lost Family and Bargain King. It is also behind long-running scripted series The First Years in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

A team of experienced producers on the ground now allows BBC Studios Nordics to engage in broader creative conversations across all genres and respond to the growing appetite for content in the region.

“Being more proactive in the region, we will also be able to accelerate the creation of even more great Nordic content and formats for export outside the Nordics. This will keep the Nordics in a leading position as a creative hot spot for original high-quality content, to benefit all Nordic players,” Salling says.

BBC Studios and STV copro Denmark Saves the Planet

Initially, the focus will be on unscripted formats, as the new outfit has wide experience in this genre, but BBCS’s track record in drama is exceptionally strong.

“BBCS is a world leader in the area of scripted formats and we believe there is a growing appetite for this in the Nordics as well – in part, driven by the necessity to think outside the box and find cheaper ways to deliver premium drama series to both the local and international clients here,” he says.

Salling believes the markets the company covers – Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland – urgently need to re-invent themselves to meet regional and global challenges. It will likely force both producers and broadcasters/streamers to explore new avenues in order to keep delivering quality on limited budgets.

“We have confidence in the growth of the Nordic market and in the team at BBC Studios Nordic Productions and are positive that being part of the BBCS global network will help them flourish on a local and global scale,” Salling says.

BBC Studios Nordics is currently licensing or coproducing Dancing with the Stars and Bake Off in all four territories and has also started coproducing Top Gear in Finland. Local versions of the Dementia Choir are in production in both Norway and Denmark. In addition, the prodco has just licensed seasons 31 and 32 of Antiques Road Show to SVT in Sweden. Another three or four coproductions will soon be announced.