TF1’s Newen Studios acquires Nordic production company Anagram

TF1 Group-owned Newen Studios is expanding its presence in the Scandinavian market with the acquisition of production company Anagram.

Romain Bessi

The acquisition brings Anagram’s three main businesses – Anagram Sweden, Anagram Norway and live events company Anagram Live – under the Newen Studios umbrella.

Mats Alders, who has been the chairman and CEO of Anagram since 2013, will continue to lead the company.

Some of the entities under Newen Studios have worked with Anagram in the past, both on the production and distribution side.

Newen Studios-backed Danish prodco Nimbus has previously coproduced the series Between Us with Anagram Norway, while Ammo, an Anagram project soon to launch on TV2 Norway, is also part of Newen Connect’s line-up for this month’s Mipcom.

Execs and creatives under the Anagram banner include Miira Paasilinna, MD of Anagram Sweden, and Martin Persson; Anagram Norway’s Anne Kolbjørnsen and Ole Marius Araldsen; and Erik Ahrnbom, who is an in-house screenwriter at Anagram Sweden.

Anagram Sweden’s credits include Thin Blue Line and Keep it Together for SVT and The Machinery for Viaplay, while Anagram Norway produces series such as Kieler Street, Between Us and Milk, with TV2 Norway and TV2 Denmark as main broadcasting partners.

“We are thrilled to welcome Anagram, headed by Mats Alders and its team,” said Romain Bessi, CEO of Newen Studios.

“This is a perfect match for us, since Anagram and Newen Studios have already forged strong links through successful cooperations. Anagram will greatly complement and reinforce our already strong presence in Scandinavia, an essential region for drama and storytelling in Europe.”

Alders added: “We are excited to be part of the Newen Studios Group and to continue our journey to deliver scripted content for the Nordic and international market.”