News

L.A.-based Dynamic Television has acquired worldwide rights to the Swedish series “The Pirate Bay,” about the notorious pirate BitTorrent site and its co-founders Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij, and Gottfrid Swartholm.

The six-part series, set to go unto production this fall, is being produced by Stockholm and L.A.-based powerhouse B-Reel Films for Swedish pubcaster Svt. “I Am Zlatan” helmer Jens Sjögren is directing, from a screenplay by head-writer Piotr Marciniak (“Everything I Can’t Remember”), with Patrik Gyllström (“Agatha Christie’s Hjerson”) serving as episodic writer.

The character-driven show turns on Peter, Fredrik and Gottfrid, who ended up creating in 2003 one of the world’s largest BitTorrent indexes as a reaction to big business trying to take control file sharing over the Internet.

What was intended to ignite a revolution to let information flow freely, quickly became responsible for the illegal distribution of copyrighted films, music, books and software online.

"You mean we now have two murders to solve?" Topic has unveiled a new US trailer for a Swedish crime series titled Agatha Christie's Hjerson, available to watch starting in December. This already premiered in Sweden last year, but is only making its way to US streaming services this fall. Agatha Christie's Hjerson is the first ever adaptation based on the fictional detective of Christie's fictional writer Ariadne Oliver; a playful, meta contemporary whodunnit from the producers of Midsommar and Before We Die. It follows the former criminal investigator Sven Hjerson who has previously involved in solving some of Sweden's most difficult cases of all time. For a few years now, he has retired from the limelight and now lives far under the radar. A life fraught with daily routines, vegan diet, dedicated vinyl collecting and an absolutely incredible love of gossip. He returns for a true crime show, only to discover a real murder.

Viaplay Plans November 1 Launch Date For UK As Premier Sports Deal Closes

Viaplay has confirmed the date for its launch in the UK: November 1. It will offer two packages – a film- and series-focused option focused on Nordic storytelling, including Viaplay Originals and third-party shows, and a ‘Total’ package also including sports, priced at £3.99 (4.50) and £14.99 (17) per month, respectively. The Total package will include Premier Sports content after Viaplay’s acquisition of the UK streamer received Irish media merger control clearance this week. The deal values the Ireland-based, Setanta-owned company at £30M (34M). Premier Sports channels will be rebranded under Viaplay monikers and the Total package will include Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland men’s FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro Cup games, along with several other sports tournaments. The UK launch takes Viaplay’s footprint to 11 territories, with U.S. and Canada services coming in early 2023.

Davy Chou’s ‘Return...

Cannes — TV series “Agatha Christie’s Hjerson” has been picked up by streamer Topic for North America and by the Australian channel Sbs, Zdf Studios announced Tuesday at Cannes Mipcom trade fair.

“Agatha Christie’s Hjerson” is being sold as both a 45-minute series and four feature-length stories.

Topic has taken exclusive rights for the U.S. and Canada. Sbs, a multicultural Australian broadcaster, has also closed an exclusive deal for the drama series.

Additionally, Zdf Studios has licensed the program to VOD platforms Google Play, iTunes, Amazon, Deutsche Telekom and Huawei for German speaking territories, as well as Germany’s public broadcaster, Zdf.

Other buyers include Viasat World, which covers the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia and the whole of Southeast Europe, Keshet (Israel), Nhk (Japan), VR Films (India), Lrt (Lithuania) and Walter Presents, Walter Iuzzolino’s Global Series Network for the U.K. and Ireland.

“I’m delighted that this excellent drama,...

Zdf Enterprises, to be rebranded Zdf Studios in April, has snagged worldwide distribution rights to the topical post-wwii dramatic series “Between Two Worlds” (“Ein Hauch Von Amerika”).

Skein is set in a fictional German town in the ’50s where a robust U.S. military presence is impacting the lives of its people, in particular the two young friends Marie and Erika, whose relationships with their family, community and each other are put to the test by the presence of a U.S. army base.

Commented Sebastian Krekeler, director Zdfe.drama, Zdf Enterprises: “The clash of different cultures and the defence of a free society is more topical than ever. Racism and anti-Semitism, emancipation and civil rights, tradition versus new beginnings – many of the conflicts that were fought back then are far from over today.”

“‘Between Two Worlds’ is entertaining and at the same time provokes thought about issues that still concern us today,...

Zdf Enterprises has closed deals with Asian buyers for new Scandinavian and Russian series, among them “Agatha Christie’s Hjerson,” “Sherlock: The Russian Chronicles” and “Top Dog.”

Japan’s Axn Mystery picked up exclusive pay-tv rights for “Agatha Christie’s Hjerson,” a playful, modern-day whodunnit based on the fictional detective Sven Hjerson, created by Christie’s fictional writer Ariadne Oliver. The series centers on Hjerson and trash TV producer Klara Sandberg, who wants to reset her career with a true crime show featuring the once renowned criminal profiler. Together, they start to solve a string of murder mysteries.

The eight-part series is produced by Br•F, TV4/C More, Zdf, Agatha Christie Ltd. and Nadcon Film.

“Top Dog” went to Japanese pay-tv leader Wowow, which bought exclusive pay-tv rights for show. The series, which played to an upbeat reception at Canneseries, focuses on the clash between Stockholm business attorney Emily Jansson and...

German sellers returning to Cannes’s Mipcom TV mart will be packing a wide selection of domestic and international TV fare heavy on high-end crime and historical series.

With a market that has become increasingly open to different formats, sales companies see good opportunities for diverse offerings.

“Crime is still the most in- demand genre in the market, as well as action,” says Julia Weber, head of international sales and acquisitions at Munich-based Global Screen. “But whatever genre you look at, the main driver remains the story. It needs to be compelling and speak to the audience.”

Weber adds that more and more historical dramas are also being produced, underscoring “an increasing need for series that are rather escapist and that cater to audiences in the post-lockdown world.”

Global Screen’s six-part “The Palace” is a prime example, she adds. Produced by Constantin Television for Zdf and directed by Uli Edel,...

Stockholm- and Copenhagen-based company launches this autumn.

Endeavor Content has invested an undisclosed amount in Nordic Drama Queens, the new Scandinavian production company launched by Josefine Tengblad, Sandra Harms and Line Winther Skyum Funch.

The Stockholm- and Copenhagen-based company launches this autumn with a focus on developing premium drama from established and emerging voices from the Nordic region and around the world.

The three founders have served in various capacities in the region’s entertainment sector.

Tengblad was formerly head of drama at TV4/CMore and previously served as an independent producer. Her credits include Blinded, Top Dog and Agatha Christie’s Hjerson.

Endeavor Content is investing in new Scandinavian production start-up Nordic Drama Queens, an outfit launched by three Scandi TV veterans focused on developing and producing high-end series for the global market.

Josefine Tengblad, formerly Head of Drama at Swedish network TV4/CMore and a producer whose credits include Blinded, Top Dog, and Agatha Christie’s Hjerson, set up Nordic Drama Queens together with former Miso Films managing director Sandra Harms (438 Days, Lust) and Line Winther Skyum Funch a former executive producer at Sweden’s Yellow Bird, whose credits include the Millennium trilogy, Occupied and Thin Ice.

Financial details weren’t disclosed.

Endeavor’s Scandinavian move follows a similar equity ...

Endeavor Content is investing in new Scandinavian production start-up Nordic Drama Queens, an outfit launched by three Scandi TV veterans focused on developing and producing high-end series for the global market.

Josefine Tengblad, formerly Head of Drama at Swedish network TV4/CMore and a producer whose credits include Blinded, Top Dog, and Agatha Christie’s Hjerson, set up Nordic Drama Queens together with former Miso Films managing director Sandra Harms (438 Days, Lust) and Line Winther Skyum Funch a former executive producer at Sweden’s Yellow Bird, whose credits include the Millennium trilogy, Occupied and Thin Ice.

Financial details weren’t disclosed.

Endeavor’s Scandinavian move follows a similar equity ...