The success of Nordic fiction through titles such as The Bridge, Borgen and The Killing has proven there is an international demand for often darker stories.
However, as Stockholm-based consultancy Mediavision points out, there is also local interest. While titles such as Home for Christmas and The Rain are playing on Netflix and Björnstad and Beforeigners on HBO Nordic, local services Viaplay, C More and public service broadcasters have a larger pool of content.
Between them Netflix, HBO, Viaplay, C More and Discovery+ have so far announced 70 new Nordic originals that will premiere this year.
Netflix launched 13 Nordic titles in 2020 and 17 new Nordic originals are to be premiered this year. HBO Nordic has so far released four Nordic originals and another four are announced for 2021. Viaplay has released 60 titles since 2019 and is planning for another 40 series to debut in 2021.