The premium Nordic streaming service Viaplay will make its debut in the US this Wednesday, December 15.
It will be initially available on Comcast’s entertainment devices, including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and the recently announced XClass TV. Viaplay will be available as an add-on subscription, priced at $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. The US launch takes its 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 premium Nordic series and films, both new and classic, with a focus on thrillers, drama and young adult content. Viewers will also be offered at least one premiere every week, with Viaplay aiming to release at least 60 Originals in 2022.
A range of exclusive documentary series will also be available at launch, with many more to come. All Viaplay content in the US will have English subtitles.
Commenting on the upcoming launch, Anders Jensen, NENT Group president and CEO, said: “Our small corner of Europe produces some of the world’s most compelling stories. We create special shows that have both style and substance, and that have been embraced by audiences and critics. At the same time, Hollywood stars like Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander have helped put the Nordic region even more firmly on the map. There is a receptive audience of Nordic drama fans waiting in the US for Viaplay’s unique offering, which will bring the best of Nordic storytelling to the world’s most dynamic streaming market”.
Viaplay intends to launch a direct-to-consumer app in the US in due course.
Of the 130 million households in the US, over 80% currently subscribe to a streaming service, with an average of three subscriptions per streaming household.
Viaplay will launch in the Netherlands on March 1, 2022 and in the UK during the second half of next year, with Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland set to follow by the end of 2023 at the latest.
