Meter exec joins Friday as founders exit

Swedish formats prodco Friday TV has restructured following the departure of its cofounders, with the head of programmes from sister company Meter Television joining as MD.

Per Blankens is now running Friday, which is behind formats such as Single Moms, Clash of the Choirs and Minute to Win It. The firm is part of the Metronome Group that Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine Group bought in 2009 for US$88m.

His arrival comes as Friday cofounder Estelle Bodén exits. Her fellow cofounders Jock Millgårdh and Mattias Olsson announced their departures at the end of 2011. Bodén leaves in conjunction with upcoming parental leave and to pursue “other future challenges,” according to Metronome.

Blakens joins from Meter, where he has been since 2008 and was most recently its programming chief. His credits include comedy series C/O Segemyhr, late-night talkshow Sen Kväll Med Luuk and season five of reality talent series Swedish Idol. He also produced coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest.

“Per is one of Sweden’s best programme creators and has enormous experience of developing, as well as producing, new TV programmes. His enormous creativity and competence have their roots in a wide spectrum of TV entertainment,” said Anna Rydin, head of Metronome’s Swedish unscripted television productions and Meter’s MD.