NENT names Viaplay scripted head

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) has appointed a Discovery Networks Sweden exec as head of scripted at its streaming service Viaplay, replacing Mikael Newihl.

Jon Petersson

Jon Petersson will focus on developing original series for Viaplay, having spent 13 years at Discovery Networks Sweden as head of programme control and as a drama commissioner.

He was most recently working as an executive producer on drama Gåsmamman, which aired on C More in the Nordics, and Viaplay coproduction The Truth Will Out.

Petersson will report to Fredrik Ljungberg, programming director at the Nordic streamer. He replaces Newihl, who has been named head of development at NENT-owned scripted producer Nice Drama.

NENT has been rapidly expanding its originals over the past 18 months and now plans to premiere 20 original productions each year, with shows such as Honour, ALEX, Conspiracy of Silence, Rig 45 and Occupied on the slate.

Its shows have also sold globally, with Veni Vidi Vici becoming available on Hulu in the US, Swedish Dicks being acquired by US cablenet Pop TV and Black Lake airing on BBC4 in the UK and AMC Networks-backed streamer Shudder.

Petersson’s appointment comes after NENT Studios named Alexander Tanno as CEO of Nice Drama, which was behind scripted series Midnight Sun.

Tanno took up the role at the start of October, having previously been head of content strategy and international copros at Viaplay.

Stockholm-based NENT includes broadcasting, streaming and distribution operations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, spanning free and pay TV. As well as Viaplay, it houses the TV3, TV6, TV8 and TV10 channel brands, plus producers such as Monster, Strix and Paprika Studios.

NENT was formed earlier this year ahead of the planned splitting up of Nordic media giant MTG.