Brain Academy and Nice Drama are to merge and join Viaplay Studios Animation and Paprika Studios in a new Viaplay Studios organisation.
The former NENT Studios will primarily focus on delivering original content for NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service as it continues its European rollout. It’s anticipated Viaplay will be available in at least 15 countries by the end of 2023, including the Netherlands, and Central & East Europe and Nordic territories.
Brain Academy and Nice Drama are currently in the process of merging into a single entity named Viaplay Studios Sweden and will produce original content exclusively for Viaplay. Viaplay Studios is also home to Viaplay Studios Animation, previously called NENT Animation, which will produce animated content for Viaplay.
Paprika Studios, a Central & Eastern Europe-focused production company headquartered in Budapest and with a presence in nine markets, will operate as part of Viaplay Studios while retaining its current structure and branding. Paprika Studios will continue to work with third-party productions.
Viaplay Studios will also manage NENT Group’s UK-based joint venture with FilmNation Entertainment and investment in Los Angeles-based studio Picturestart.
Alexander Bastin, previously NENT Studios CEO, has been appointed Viaplay Studios CEO. Alexander Tanno, previously Nice Drama CEO, has been appointed Viaplay Studios Sweden CEO, and Helena Sandermark, previously Brain Academy CEO, has been appointed Head of Production, Viaplay Studios Sweden. Jens Köpsén and Akos Erdos will continue in their current roles as VP & Head of Viaplay Studios Animation and Paprika Studios CEO respectively.
Alexander Bastin, Viaplay Studios CEO: “Our reorganised studios business will be key in fuelling Viaplay’s growth in the years to come. Viaplay Studios already has an outstanding slate of upcoming Viaplay Originals, including Lasse Hallström’s Hilma and Adi Hasak’s The Box, and we are now set up to deliver even more unique stories. This is an important step in securing Viaplay’s long-term content pipeline while providing a home for the most talented creators and producers in the Nordic region and beyond.”
Titles produced by companies now part of Viaplay Studios include ‘Midnight Sun’, ‘The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared’, ‘Thicker Than Water’, ‘The Perfect Patient’ and ‘Max Anger’, recently nominated for the Best European Drama Series award at the Festival de la Fiction TV.
