NENT streamer Viaplay stocks up on Scandi drama ahead of US launch

Crime drama Huss is adapted from Helene Tursten’s novels

Nordic Entertainment (NENT) Group-owned streamer Viaplay has acquired a host of dramas from ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE) and Banijay Rights ahead of its US launch this week.

Viaplay, which arrives in the US on December 15, will launch the series later this year.

The package deal with ZDFE includes new series Grow (8×42′), a thriller about two brothers, and Huss (10×45′), inspired by Helene Tursten’s best-selling crime novels.

Viaplay will also premiere Thicker Than Water (27×60′), a family saga that uncovers hidden truths and dark secrets, and the political thriller Blue Eyes (10×60′) in the US.

The other acquisitions include Stockholm Requiem (10×45′), from Piodor Gustafsson; The Dying Detective (3×60′), based on the eponymous novel by author Leif GW Persson; Johan Falk (17×90′); The Protectors (20×60′); and Top Dog (8×45′).

The deal with Banijay includes Countrymen (8×60’) originally from Banijay Norwegian label Rubicon for Norwegian public broadcaster NRK in coproduction with Arte France and A Class Apart (8×60’) from Banijay Swedish label Jarowskij.

Among the other titles from the Banijay Rights catalogue included in the agreement with NENT Group are two seasons of Jarowskij thriller Black Lake (16×60’) and Dystopia (8×60’); seasons one to five of crime drama Gåsmamman (42×60’), from Banijay Nordics and the first two seasons of Swedish science fiction drama Real Humans (20×60’), from Matador Film and SVT.

In the US, Viaplay will also show the first two seasons of Swedish crime series Wallander (26×90’) from Banijay label Yellow Bird; and seasons one and two of Wallander UK (6×90’), which Yellow Bird coproduced along with Left Bank Pictures, TKBC with Masterpiece, TV4, Film i Skåne and the Copenhagen Film Fund.

The service launches initially on Comcast’s entertainment devices, including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and the recently announced XClass TV.

It will be available as an add-on subscription, priced at US$4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial.

The US launch takes Viaplay’s global footprint to 10 countries, with at least six more set to follow by the end of 2023 at the latest.

At launch, Viaplay will host more than 1,100 hours of Nordic series and films, with a focus on thrillers, drama and young-adult content.

Viaplay originals on the launch slate include dramas Partisan, starring Fares Fares (Chernobyl) and Wisting, along with young-adult shows Delete Me, Two Sisters, A Class Apart and Threesome.