DRG’s Halliwell adds NENT UK role

Nordic media giant NENT Group has appointed the CEO of its UK-based distributor DRG as MD of its newly-formed NENT Studios UK division.

Richard Halliwell will continue with his DRG role as well as serving as MD of NENT Studios UK, which was unveiled as part of a widespread company restructure in September.

The new division comprises NENT Group’s content production and distribution businesses in the UK. The company says it intends to make substantial investments in UK and international content, primarily to feed its Viaplay streaming service.

Halliwell will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of NENT Studios UK, focusing on the development, funding and distribution of scripted and non-scripted content for the international market.

By continuing his existing role at DRG he will also oversee global distribution of the originals created by the new arm.

He will report to Jakob Mejlhede Andersen, CEO of NENT Studios UK, who has hands-on knowledge of Viaplay’s target audience from his previous role as NENT Group head of content, most recently based in Los Angeles.

NENT Studios, which brings together NENT Group’s content production and distribution businesses, operates through three divisions – Nordics and Central & Eastern Europe; the UK; and the US.

In January, NENT Group announced a UK-based joint venture with award-winning independent studio FilmNation Entertainment to develop, produce and finance premium scripted television content for global audiences.

In other news, NENT Group has unveiled its latest original commission for Viaplay, a four-part documentary on the history of the Vikings, which will premiere in 2020.

The Last Journey of the Vikings is produced by Scandi outfit Mopar Studios and is a coproduction between NENT Group, French public service broadcaster France Télévisions and DRG which will also distribute the series internationally.