UK diginet BBC4 has picked up domestic rights to Lilyhammer, the Norwegian dramedy that becomes available in the US on VoD service Netflix today.
The acquisition strengthens BBC4’s burgeoning reputation for Scandinavian drama, following previous purchases that include crime drama The Killing and political series Borgen, both produced by Danish pubcaster DR.
Lilyhammer (8×45’), starring Steven Van Zandt (The Sopranos), tells the story of a New York mobster who moves to Lillehammer – the Norwegian town that hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics – after entering the witness relocation programme.
The series, which is produced by Norwegian prodco Rubicon and distributed by SevenOne International, debuted in Norway on pubcaster NRK1 on January 25 to record breaking ratings. Its premiere drew an overall share of 56.3% with 998,000 viewers.
Netflix will make all eight episodes, which feature English and Norwegian dialogue, available to subscribers in the US, Canada and Latin America today.
Previous Scandinavian imports to BBC4 include two seasons of The Killing and the first season of Borgen, which finished on Saturday. The network has now picked up season two, which is slated for a winter 2012/13 release.
The channel has also acquired The Bridge, a coproduction between Denmark’s Nimbus and Sweden’s Filmlance about a police investigation after a body is found on Öresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö. The Bridge (10×60’) is sold internationally by ZDF Enterprises and is due to air on BBC4 later this year.
To watch a recent C21TV interview with Steven Van Zandt in which he talks about Lilyhammer click here.
.jpg)
