Less than two months from the end of its U.S. streaming service, Nordic entertainment hub Viaplay is back up and running as a channel on Prime Video. If you have Prime Video, you can check out Viaplay with a free 7-day trial. If you don’t have Prime Video, it’s easy to give that a try with a free 30-day trial.
7-Day Free Trial $5.99+ / month viaplay via amazon.com
Prime Video is home to dozens of great add-on channels, and nearly all of them have weeklong free trials.
Viaplay’s initial launch in the U.S. and Canada helped push the streamer’s international subscriber total to 7.64 million, but the honeymoon was short-lived. In June 2023, Viaplay downgraded its future financial forecasts and CEO Anders Jensen resigned; Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, who was the former CEO of Viaplay’s previous parent company, took over the chief executive role.
Despite the C-suite drama,...
7-Day Free Trial $5.99+ / month viaplay via amazon.com
Prime Video is home to dozens of great add-on channels, and nearly all of them have weeklong free trials.
Viaplay’s initial launch in the U.S. and Canada helped push the streamer’s international subscriber total to 7.64 million, but the honeymoon was short-lived. In June 2023, Viaplay downgraded its future financial forecasts and CEO Anders Jensen resigned; Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, who was the former CEO of Viaplay’s previous parent company, took over the chief executive role.
Despite the C-suite drama,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Ben Bowman
- The Streamable
Viaplay shut its direct-to-consumer service in February, but the Scandi streamer is still active in the U.S.
The platform has struck a deal to launch a subscription channel on Prime Video Channels, offering originals such as Börje – The Journey of a Legend, Furia and Gold Run.
The channel launches on Prime Video Channels today, offering access to Viaplay for $5.99 a month, with a free seven-day trial.
The development comes after Viaplay closed its subscription streaming app in North America after a turbulent 2023 in which the Sweden-based company made 25% of its staff redundant and restructured around a package of sports rights and unscripted content. Expensive scripted shows were axed and sold, and the streamer has since pulled out of North America and the UK.
Exits from the Baltics and Poland are also coming, with Group President and CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann telling shareholders the company “will be different” in its annual report last month.
The platform has struck a deal to launch a subscription channel on Prime Video Channels, offering originals such as Börje – The Journey of a Legend, Furia and Gold Run.
The channel launches on Prime Video Channels today, offering access to Viaplay for $5.99 a month, with a free seven-day trial.
The development comes after Viaplay closed its subscription streaming app in North America after a turbulent 2023 in which the Sweden-based company made 25% of its staff redundant and restructured around a package of sports rights and unscripted content. Expensive scripted shows were axed and sold, and the streamer has since pulled out of North America and the UK.
Exits from the Baltics and Poland are also coming, with Group President and CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann telling shareholders the company “will be different” in its annual report last month.
- 4/17/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Studios Launches First Kids Streamer In Korea
BBC Studios has launched a streamer for children’s TV in Korea for the first time. The BBC Kids platform will feature the likes of Hey Duggee, Andy’s Global Adventures and Go Jetters. It will be available as a monthly subscription service on Genie TV Kids Land, a Korean Iptv service for young children, in collaboration with KT. The service will feature a mix of content in English language as well as a variety of popular titles dubbed into Korean for the very first time. It comes as the BBC places more stress on exploiting commercial outside of the UK. BBC Studios recently bought out BritBox International from ITV. It already operates kids streamers in Australia, Taiwan, South Africa and India, along with a U.S. Fast channel. “The BBC has been educating, informing and entertaining the world for over 100 years...
BBC Studios has launched a streamer for children’s TV in Korea for the first time. The BBC Kids platform will feature the likes of Hey Duggee, Andy’s Global Adventures and Go Jetters. It will be available as a monthly subscription service on Genie TV Kids Land, a Korean Iptv service for young children, in collaboration with KT. The service will feature a mix of content in English language as well as a variety of popular titles dubbed into Korean for the very first time. It comes as the BBC places more stress on exploiting commercial outside of the UK. BBC Studios recently bought out BritBox International from ITV. It already operates kids streamers in Australia, Taiwan, South Africa and India, along with a U.S. Fast channel. “The BBC has been educating, informing and entertaining the world for over 100 years...
- 4/2/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
“Moving forward, our company will be different.”
That was the vow of Viaplay Group President and CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann to shareholders in the troubled European streamer’s latest annual report, which released this morning in Europe and showed huge 2023 losses despite revenue growth.
Viaplay faced extinction last year after struggling to build subs in territories such as the U.S., the Baltics and the UK, and being hit badly by the tough global economy.
However, it has been restructuring under Madsen Lindemann, who was parachuted in midway through the year to set a new course achieved through staff cuts, asset sales and a heavy recap program that reduced shareholder value to almost nothing.
Today, he said the recovery was underway, albeit that the “complexity of exiting” its non-core international markets was holding up several commercial and led to higher than expected losses. “We are dedicated to building businesses in...
That was the vow of Viaplay Group President and CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann to shareholders in the troubled European streamer’s latest annual report, which released this morning in Europe and showed huge 2023 losses despite revenue growth.
Viaplay faced extinction last year after struggling to build subs in territories such as the U.S., the Baltics and the UK, and being hit badly by the tough global economy.
However, it has been restructuring under Madsen Lindemann, who was parachuted in midway through the year to set a new course achieved through staff cuts, asset sales and a heavy recap program that reduced shareholder value to almost nothing.
Today, he said the recovery was underway, albeit that the “complexity of exiting” its non-core international markets was holding up several commercial and led to higher than expected losses. “We are dedicated to building businesses in...
- 3/28/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Scandinavian streamer Viaplay has further “reset” its content strategy, “moving away from large numbers of high-cost original dramas towards more popular and profitable local formats and Hollywood content,” president and CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann said on Thursday.
“We have therefore sold rights to a number of our original productions to global media players and also sold or closed our production businesses,” he added. “We are also reducing our sports rights commitments, including sublicensing selected rights so that we can focus on the rights that really move the needle for us.”
The strategy echoes the entrenchment seen across the broader entertainment industry, including Hollywood giants’ more selective approach to expensive originals. Last summer, Viaplay had outlined plans to focus on its core markets in the Nordics and the Netherlands, including the end of streaming services launched in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., and lay off more than 25 percent of staff.
“We have therefore sold rights to a number of our original productions to global media players and also sold or closed our production businesses,” he added. “We are also reducing our sports rights commitments, including sublicensing selected rights so that we can focus on the rights that really move the needle for us.”
The strategy echoes the entrenchment seen across the broader entertainment industry, including Hollywood giants’ more selective approach to expensive originals. Last summer, Viaplay had outlined plans to focus on its core markets in the Nordics and the Netherlands, including the end of streaming services launched in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., and lay off more than 25 percent of staff.
- 2/22/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Viaplay has posted organic group sales for Q4 up 3.4% and saw comparable losses shorten, as the Scandi streamer continues to reshape its business after a brutal 2023.
Sales stood at SEK4.3B ($419M) in Q4 of 2023, compared with SEK4.67B a year prior, and the operating loss (before associated company income and items affecting comparability) was SEK230M, better than last year’s SEK284M.
However, when the various sports content write-downs and other “provisions” related to the company’s strategy shift last year were factored in, the operating the loss was SEK2.86B, its interim report for Q4 revealed.
After expanding internationally into territories such as the UK and U.S., Viaplay was hit badly by global economics and the fight for subscribers.
In response, CEO Anders Jensen was replaced by former chief Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, who became President and CEO, and a major round of redundancies and a pull...
Sales stood at SEK4.3B ($419M) in Q4 of 2023, compared with SEK4.67B a year prior, and the operating loss (before associated company income and items affecting comparability) was SEK230M, better than last year’s SEK284M.
However, when the various sports content write-downs and other “provisions” related to the company’s strategy shift last year were factored in, the operating the loss was SEK2.86B, its interim report for Q4 revealed.
After expanding internationally into territories such as the UK and U.S., Viaplay was hit badly by global economics and the fight for subscribers.
In response, CEO Anders Jensen was replaced by former chief Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, who became President and CEO, and a major round of redundancies and a pull...
- 2/22/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Prime Video Nordics has swooped to acquire nine scripted originals from Viaplay, which abandoned its high-end scripted commissioning drive last year.
The titles will now launch on Prime Video following the agreement, which Martin Backlund, Managing Director of Prime Video Nordics, called a “landmark deal.”
The shows comprise Bullshit, The Commoner, The Fortress, In the Name of Love, Jana – Marked for Life, Paradis City, Solo/Dancing Alone, Furia Season Two and Those Who Kill Season Four. We told you about several of them last year, when Viaplay was pushing ahead with an aggressive scripted originals strategy that was later scrapped.
Also included are library titles such as Couple Trouble, Furia Season One, Hammarvik, Honour and Occupied. This part of the agreement is non-exclusive and the shows will appear on both services.
The Nordics were recently identified as one of several European territories where Prime Video can grow, and was...
The titles will now launch on Prime Video following the agreement, which Martin Backlund, Managing Director of Prime Video Nordics, called a “landmark deal.”
The shows comprise Bullshit, The Commoner, The Fortress, In the Name of Love, Jana – Marked for Life, Paradis City, Solo/Dancing Alone, Furia Season Two and Those Who Kill Season Four. We told you about several of them last year, when Viaplay was pushing ahead with an aggressive scripted originals strategy that was later scrapped.
Also included are library titles such as Couple Trouble, Furia Season One, Hammarvik, Honour and Occupied. This part of the agreement is non-exclusive and the shows will appear on both services.
The Nordics were recently identified as one of several European territories where Prime Video can grow, and was...
- 2/8/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Clarkson’s Farm’ First-Look & S3 Release Date Unveiled
Amazon Prime Video has unveiled images and a May release date for the upcoming Clarkson’s Farm. Pics show the ever-controversial host return to his Diddly Squat farm with compatriots facing daunting challenges. The crops are failing in the severe hot weather, inflation has driven prices of supplies sky high, dreams for the beloved restaurant are dashed and the farm shop also faces closure. Clarkson needs to come up with creative new ways of making ends meet, while someone new arrives to Diddly Squat, which puts Kaleb’s nose out of joint. The series will launch on May 3 and an image can be seen above. Controversy has surrounded the show since Grand Tour host Clarkson’s vitriolic Meghan Markle rant in The Sun, but a fourth season was confirmed several weeks ago despite reports that it had been canceled over the Markle tirade. Earlier this week,...
Amazon Prime Video has unveiled images and a May release date for the upcoming Clarkson’s Farm. Pics show the ever-controversial host return to his Diddly Squat farm with compatriots facing daunting challenges. The crops are failing in the severe hot weather, inflation has driven prices of supplies sky high, dreams for the beloved restaurant are dashed and the farm shop also faces closure. Clarkson needs to come up with creative new ways of making ends meet, while someone new arrives to Diddly Squat, which puts Kaleb’s nose out of joint. The series will launch on May 3 and an image can be seen above. Controversy has surrounded the show since Grand Tour host Clarkson’s vitriolic Meghan Markle rant in The Sun, but a fourth season was confirmed several weeks ago despite reports that it had been canceled over the Markle tirade. Earlier this week,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Viaplay’s Central and Eastern European production division Paprika Studios has exited the Scandinavian media group.
A management buyout led by Paprika CEO Ákos Erdős will return the Budapest-based producer to its indie roots, and marks the latest chapter in Viaplay’s strategy to recover from a financially devastating 2023.
Selling Paprika was among the plans floated last week as part of a recapitalization program at Viaplay, which is targeting double-digit profit margins in five years’ time. Terms of the agreement were not revealed.
Paprika has been part of Viaplay since 2012, initially joining what was then known as Modern Times Group. After Viaplay decided to focus on its Nordic and Netherlands operations and a content strategy based on premium sports, acquired films and series and local non-scripted productions, Viaplay offered Paprika management the chance to buy back the business. An offer was received on January 10 and the transaction closed on Friday (January 19).
The recapitalization plan,...
A management buyout led by Paprika CEO Ákos Erdős will return the Budapest-based producer to its indie roots, and marks the latest chapter in Viaplay’s strategy to recover from a financially devastating 2023.
Selling Paprika was among the plans floated last week as part of a recapitalization program at Viaplay, which is targeting double-digit profit margins in five years’ time. Terms of the agreement were not revealed.
Paprika has been part of Viaplay since 2012, initially joining what was then known as Modern Times Group. After Viaplay decided to focus on its Nordic and Netherlands operations and a content strategy based on premium sports, acquired films and series and local non-scripted productions, Viaplay offered Paprika management the chance to buy back the business. An offer was received on January 10 and the transaction closed on Friday (January 19).
The recapitalization plan,...
- 1/22/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Fans of Viaplay’s titles will be able to continue watching via a handful of American partners.
Six months after being initially announced, fans of Nordic Noir living in the United States will have to find a new streaming source for their favorite Swedish police series as Viaplay confirmed on Thursday that it would officially be shutting down its streaming service in the U.S. on Thursday, Feb. 29. The move to shutter its service in the U.S. and the United Kingdom was initially announced in July 2023 as the company lost one million customers worldwide leading to a number of leadership changes at the company. Despite the closing of Viaplay’s standalone streamer, viewers will still be able to watch the brand’s titles via domestic partners.
The Sweden-based company will shut down its streaming service in the United States next month. Despite the streaming closure, domestic viewers will still...
Six months after being initially announced, fans of Nordic Noir living in the United States will have to find a new streaming source for their favorite Swedish police series as Viaplay confirmed on Thursday that it would officially be shutting down its streaming service in the U.S. on Thursday, Feb. 29. The move to shutter its service in the U.S. and the United Kingdom was initially announced in July 2023 as the company lost one million customers worldwide leading to a number of leadership changes at the company. Despite the closing of Viaplay’s standalone streamer, viewers will still be able to watch the brand’s titles via domestic partners.
The Sweden-based company will shut down its streaming service in the United States next month. Despite the streaming closure, domestic viewers will still...
- 1/18/2024
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
Viaplay is targeting double-digit profit margins in five years’ time following the recapitalization program that it hopes will end months of strife, although it has once again downgraded financials for the coming year.
The Scandi outfit delivered the lofty ambition as the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority approved its major recapitalization program, paving the way for new shares to be issued and traded on the Stockholm stock exchange.
Agreed last week at an Extraordinary General Meeting, the plan has effectively seen Viaplay rescued from collapse but at a price for its existing owners, who have had shares diluted. Canal+ and investment firm Ppf have each taken a 29% stake in the outfit and the recapitalization plan will raise 4 billion Swedish crowns ($391 million) in new equity, write down 2 billion crowns in debt and renegotiate the terms of debt totalling 14.6 billion crowns.
Issuing a prospectus today, Viaplay said that the measures it has taken...
The Scandi outfit delivered the lofty ambition as the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority approved its major recapitalization program, paving the way for new shares to be issued and traded on the Stockholm stock exchange.
Agreed last week at an Extraordinary General Meeting, the plan has effectively seen Viaplay rescued from collapse but at a price for its existing owners, who have had shares diluted. Canal+ and investment firm Ppf have each taken a 29% stake in the outfit and the recapitalization plan will raise 4 billion Swedish crowns ($391 million) in new equity, write down 2 billion crowns in debt and renegotiate the terms of debt totalling 14.6 billion crowns.
Issuing a prospectus today, Viaplay said that the measures it has taken...
- 1/16/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Canal+ has officially upped its stake in Viaplay to 29% after the rubberstamping of the against-the-ropes Scandi outfit’s recapitalization program.
The plan, which was first introduced to shareholders several weeks ago, was agreed on Wednesday and will see Canal+ and investment firm Ppf take around a 29% stake each.
Effectively, Viaplay has been rescued from collapse but at a price for its existing owners, who have had shares diluted.
Vivendi-owned Canal+ initially took a 12% stake in July, coming on the day that Viaplay Group announced it would be making at least 25% of its workforce redundant – a figure that has since risen to around 30%.
The plan involves raising 4 billion Swedish crowns ($391 million) in new equity, writing down 2 billion crowns in debt and renegotiating the terms of debt totalling 14.6 billion crowns.
“This means that the recapitalisation programme for Viaplay Group proposed by the Board of Directors on 1 December 2023 can progress according to plan,...
The plan, which was first introduced to shareholders several weeks ago, was agreed on Wednesday and will see Canal+ and investment firm Ppf take around a 29% stake each.
Effectively, Viaplay has been rescued from collapse but at a price for its existing owners, who have had shares diluted.
Vivendi-owned Canal+ initially took a 12% stake in July, coming on the day that Viaplay Group announced it would be making at least 25% of its workforce redundant – a figure that has since risen to around 30%.
The plan involves raising 4 billion Swedish crowns ($391 million) in new equity, writing down 2 billion crowns in debt and renegotiating the terms of debt totalling 14.6 billion crowns.
“This means that the recapitalisation programme for Viaplay Group proposed by the Board of Directors on 1 December 2023 can progress according to plan,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Viaplay has sold its U.K. operations back to Premiere Sports and will be exiting the Polish and Baltic markets by summer 2025, the company announced Friday, as part of a corporate overhaul aimed at returning the money-losing Nordic streamer back to profit.
Viaplay CEO Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, who replaced Anders Jensen as boss in July, said the company had reached a deal to sell its U.K. business back to Premiere Sports, a year after acquiring it, for $38 million (30 million pounds), subject to regulatory approval. Viaplay’s U.K. operations primarily consisted of soccer rights, including Premiere’s rights to Spain’s La Liga. The business was part of an ambitious international expansion plan, launched by Jensen, to take Viaplay global with a focus on high-end original drama and top-notch live sports.
But those plans came crashing back to earth earlier this year after sluggish advertising sales slumped and increased...
Viaplay CEO Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, who replaced Anders Jensen as boss in July, said the company had reached a deal to sell its U.K. business back to Premiere Sports, a year after acquiring it, for $38 million (30 million pounds), subject to regulatory approval. Viaplay’s U.K. operations primarily consisted of soccer rights, including Premiere’s rights to Spain’s La Liga. The business was part of an ambitious international expansion plan, launched by Jensen, to take Viaplay global with a focus on high-end original drama and top-notch live sports.
But those plans came crashing back to earth earlier this year after sluggish advertising sales slumped and increased...
- 12/1/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Viaplay has sold its UK business back to Premier Sports and revealed “the renegotiation of credit arrangements and the proposed injection of new equity into the Group” as it battles the economic downturn.
Following a backs-against-the-wall few months during which the former CEO stepped down in the midst of financial strife and almost one third of staff were subsequently laid off, the publication of the Nordic outfit’s Q3 results were delayed twice.
In a statement partnering this morning’s eventual results publication, CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann revealed that Viaplay’s non-core UK business is being sold back to Premier Sports just a year after it was acquired for £30M ($38M), subject to regulatory approval. The UK business mainly incorporated the pay-tv broadcaster’s sports rights contracts including Spain’s La Liga soccer and channels along with a few technical staff who will return to Premier.
Lindemann said the “route...
Following a backs-against-the-wall few months during which the former CEO stepped down in the midst of financial strife and almost one third of staff were subsequently laid off, the publication of the Nordic outfit’s Q3 results were delayed twice.
In a statement partnering this morning’s eventual results publication, CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann revealed that Viaplay’s non-core UK business is being sold back to Premier Sports just a year after it was acquired for £30M ($38M), subject to regulatory approval. The UK business mainly incorporated the pay-tv broadcaster’s sports rights contracts including Spain’s La Liga soccer and channels along with a few technical staff who will return to Premier.
Lindemann said the “route...
- 12/1/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Good afternoon Insiders, it’s been quite the week as the ripples of the SAG strike continue to be felt around the world. Max Goldbart here with the roundup. And you can sign up here.
SAG Strike Week One
We’ve been here before: It feels just a smidgeon like we’ve been here before. As the SAG-AFTRA strike enters its second week (most likely of many), we can reflect on a seven days packed full of tributes, pickets and, internationally, plenty of confusion over projects. In the U.S., actors have been hitting the pickets in their droves, joining up with scribes who have been doing the same for coming up to three months. Where has the time gone? There are also of course question marks over promotion and upcoming festivals, in amongst Comic-Con, with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey most recently declaring that the September fest is on. All in all,...
SAG Strike Week One
We’ve been here before: It feels just a smidgeon like we’ve been here before. As the SAG-AFTRA strike enters its second week (most likely of many), we can reflect on a seven days packed full of tributes, pickets and, internationally, plenty of confusion over projects. In the U.S., actors have been hitting the pickets in their droves, joining up with scribes who have been doing the same for coming up to three months. Where has the time gone? There are also of course question marks over promotion and upcoming festivals, in amongst Comic-Con, with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey most recently declaring that the September fest is on. All in all,...
- 7/21/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Viaplay to lay off 25% of staff representing around 450 jobs.
France’s Canal+ Group has taken a minority stake in Scandinavian streamer Viaplay who earlier today (July 20) announced a company overhaul that includes cutting a quarter of its workforce.
Canal+ sent a terse statement late on Thursday announcing that it had acquired a 12% stake in the leading pay-tv player in the Nordic countries.
The news comes fresh off of Viaplay’s announcement that it will lay off 25% of its staff representing around 450 jobs and will focus on its core local business, plus sports and international distribution.
Viaplay president and CEO Jorgen Madsen Lindemann...
France’s Canal+ Group has taken a minority stake in Scandinavian streamer Viaplay who earlier today (July 20) announced a company overhaul that includes cutting a quarter of its workforce.
Canal+ sent a terse statement late on Thursday announcing that it had acquired a 12% stake in the leading pay-tv player in the Nordic countries.
The news comes fresh off of Viaplay’s announcement that it will lay off 25% of its staff representing around 450 jobs and will focus on its core local business, plus sports and international distribution.
Viaplay president and CEO Jorgen Madsen Lindemann...
- 7/20/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
France’s Canal+ Group has acquired a 12% stake in Viaplay, the leading Scandinavian streamer which announced earlier today that it would cut 25% of its workforce.
Canal + did not disclose any figure related to the deal. A subsidiary of Vivendi, Canal+ is already present in 50 territories and boasts 25.5 million subscribers, 16 million of which are from metropolitan France. The French pay TV group is also a majority shareholder in the South Africa-based platform MultiChoice.
Viaplay, the listed Scandinavian streamer, is preparing to trim 25% of its workforce as it plans to focus on its core Nordic and Dutch business, as well as sports and international distribution. Approximately 450 jobs will be axed as part of the layoff plan. These include the company’s Cco for the Nordics, Filippa Wallestam, who has been a leading force behind the streamer’s output in ambitious scripted originals. Going forward, Viaplay intends on delivering approximated 10 scripted Viaplay...
Canal + did not disclose any figure related to the deal. A subsidiary of Vivendi, Canal+ is already present in 50 territories and boasts 25.5 million subscribers, 16 million of which are from metropolitan France. The French pay TV group is also a majority shareholder in the South Africa-based platform MultiChoice.
Viaplay, the listed Scandinavian streamer, is preparing to trim 25% of its workforce as it plans to focus on its core Nordic and Dutch business, as well as sports and international distribution. Approximately 450 jobs will be axed as part of the layoff plan. These include the company’s Cco for the Nordics, Filippa Wallestam, who has been a leading force behind the streamer’s output in ambitious scripted originals. Going forward, Viaplay intends on delivering approximated 10 scripted Viaplay...
- 7/20/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Canal+ has taken a minority stake in embattled Nordic outfit Viaplay Group, which this morning announced it was making at least 25% of its workforce redundant.
The French giant issued a press release in the last few minutes stating: “Canal+ Group, leading pay-tv player present in Europe, Africa and Asia, announces its acquisition of a 12% stake in Viaplay Group, leading pay-tv player in the Nordic countries.”
Financials of the deal were undisclosed. Canal+ and Viaplay already have certain territory agreements in place by which hundreds of hours of Viaplay’s content feature on the network in the likes of Austria and Poland.
Speaking earlier today during the unveiling of its Q2 results and strategic review, new Viaplay CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann revealed that the Scandi outfit was mulling a sale of either parts of the international Viaplay business, small stakes or the whole group.
Viaplay has been forced to retrench over...
The French giant issued a press release in the last few minutes stating: “Canal+ Group, leading pay-tv player present in Europe, Africa and Asia, announces its acquisition of a 12% stake in Viaplay Group, leading pay-tv player in the Nordic countries.”
Financials of the deal were undisclosed. Canal+ and Viaplay already have certain territory agreements in place by which hundreds of hours of Viaplay’s content feature on the network in the likes of Austria and Poland.
Speaking earlier today during the unveiling of its Q2 results and strategic review, new Viaplay CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann revealed that the Scandi outfit was mulling a sale of either parts of the international Viaplay business, small stakes or the whole group.
Viaplay has been forced to retrench over...
- 7/20/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
American customers will have to say goodbye to Viaplay. The Nordic streaming service reported its second-quarter earnings on Thursday morning and revealed that it had shrunk to 6.6 million subscribers. That’s a decrease of around 1 million over the 7.64 million global customers the service claimed at the end of Q1 in April.
7-Day Free Trial $5.99 / month viaplay.com
The real story to come from Viaplay’s earnings report was the announcement that it was pulling its streaming platform out of the United States and United Kingdom. Henceforward, Viaplay will focus on the Nordic and Dutch markets, while offering certain content internationally through third parties with Viaplay Select. The company will also lay off around 25% of its employee base in an attempt to get on the right financial footing.
“We are today announcing a new strategy and plan, which includes, but is not limited to, focusing on our core Nordic, Netherlands and Viaplay Select operations,...
7-Day Free Trial $5.99 / month viaplay.com
The real story to come from Viaplay’s earnings report was the announcement that it was pulling its streaming platform out of the United States and United Kingdom. Henceforward, Viaplay will focus on the Nordic and Dutch markets, while offering certain content internationally through third parties with Viaplay Select. The company will also lay off around 25% of its employee base in an attempt to get on the right financial footing.
“We are today announcing a new strategy and plan, which includes, but is not limited to, focusing on our core Nordic, Netherlands and Viaplay Select operations,...
- 7/20/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Updated With More Details Of Layoffs 3:18 a.m. Pt: Viaplay is letting go of more than 25% of its staff as it pulls streaming out of the U.S. and UK and mulls a sale.
The embattled Nordic operation has unveiled a new strategy and plan alongside its Q2 results, which improved on last year but have been paired with a decision to “regrettably let go of more than 25% of our people,” according to new CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, who replaced Anders Jensen last month with immediate effect.
Redundancies will impact around 450 people and the cost of restructuring will be approximately 45M Swedish Krona ($4M), according to today’s Q2 update, with Lindemann set to address investors and journalists in the next hour. The move comes in the same week that Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 also said it would cut around 400 roles.
Deadline understands senior execs set to be laid off...
The embattled Nordic operation has unveiled a new strategy and plan alongside its Q2 results, which improved on last year but have been paired with a decision to “regrettably let go of more than 25% of our people,” according to new CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, who replaced Anders Jensen last month with immediate effect.
Redundancies will impact around 450 people and the cost of restructuring will be approximately 45M Swedish Krona ($4M), according to today’s Q2 update, with Lindemann set to address investors and journalists in the next hour. The move comes in the same week that Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 also said it would cut around 400 roles.
Deadline understands senior execs set to be laid off...
- 7/20/2023
- by Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
After changing its top leadership and merging its Swedish and Norwegian production units, Viaplay, the listed Scandinavian streamer, has announced that it will lay off 25% of its workforce as it plans to focus on its core Nordic and Dutch business, as well as sports and international distribution. Approximately 450 jobs will be axed as part of the layoff plan.
Filippa Wallestam, chief commercial officer for the Nordics, is departing the org. Wallestam has been a leading force behind the streamer’s output in ambitious scripted originals, including the banner’s dive in English-language content. Viaplay will not be totally pulling out of originals but will be focusing on Nordic unscripted originals. Going forward, the streamer intends on delivering approximated 10 scripted Viaplay series or movies per year, as per the outline of the content plan for 2024. It’s a massive reduction from the previous output which included at least 40 original productions per year.
Filippa Wallestam, chief commercial officer for the Nordics, is departing the org. Wallestam has been a leading force behind the streamer’s output in ambitious scripted originals, including the banner’s dive in English-language content. Viaplay will not be totally pulling out of originals but will be focusing on Nordic unscripted originals. Going forward, the streamer intends on delivering approximated 10 scripted Viaplay series or movies per year, as per the outline of the content plan for 2024. It’s a massive reduction from the previous output which included at least 40 original productions per year.
- 7/20/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy and Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
“We have too much scripted content,” new Viaplay CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann said today as he was pressed by investors on the state of the embattled Nordic outfit’s finances and future sustainability.
A scripted cull is therefore incoming, said Lindemann, with too many shows and movies greenlit over the past couple of years, as Viaplay pivots focus to “local and relevant” unscripted and acquired content. Included in today’s Q2 update and major strategic announcement was a commitment to “write down underperforming shows and accelerate amortisation of scripted content.”
“A lot of the [scripted originals] we have acquired and produced are not paying off,” Lindemann told investors and press during a results call. “It’s not bad content but commercially it’s not right.”
Lindemann’s predecessor Anders Jensen, who resigned with immediate effect last month, previously set a target of greenlighting one scripted TV series or movie per week, including...
A scripted cull is therefore incoming, said Lindemann, with too many shows and movies greenlit over the past couple of years, as Viaplay pivots focus to “local and relevant” unscripted and acquired content. Included in today’s Q2 update and major strategic announcement was a commitment to “write down underperforming shows and accelerate amortisation of scripted content.”
“A lot of the [scripted originals] we have acquired and produced are not paying off,” Lindemann told investors and press during a results call. “It’s not bad content but commercially it’s not right.”
Lindemann’s predecessor Anders Jensen, who resigned with immediate effect last month, previously set a target of greenlighting one scripted TV series or movie per week, including...
- 7/20/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Scandinavian streamer Viaplay outlined plans on Thursday to focus on its core markets in the Nordics and Netherlands, including the end of streaming services launched in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., and lay off more than 25 percent of staff. The moves are part of broad-based cost-cutting measures amid various business challenges cited by Viaplay’s new CEO.
The company will also consider various strategic options, including a possible sale.
Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, who replaced Anders Jensen as CEO of the pan-Nordic streaming group in June, had recently warned that 2023 revenue and earnings would come in sharply below previous forecasts and that cost-cutting would be needed. His team at the time also pulled the firm’s previously unveiled full-year 2023 outlook after a review of its operations and performance.
Viaplay back then also said it would be taking “a broad range of actions to address the underlying deterioration in earnings,...
The company will also consider various strategic options, including a possible sale.
Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, who replaced Anders Jensen as CEO of the pan-Nordic streaming group in June, had recently warned that 2023 revenue and earnings would come in sharply below previous forecasts and that cost-cutting would be needed. His team at the time also pulled the firm’s previously unveiled full-year 2023 outlook after a review of its operations and performance.
Viaplay back then also said it would be taking “a broad range of actions to address the underlying deterioration in earnings,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Pan-Nordic streaming group Viaplay on Thursday said it is pulling its previously announced full-year outlook for 2023. A review of the company’s operations and performance, undertaken by new CEO Jorgen Madsen Lindemann after his appointment last month, indicated that the forward revenue and earnings outlook for Viaplay will be sharply down on previous forecasts, the company said.
Viaplay said there was no change to the Group’s Q2 2023 guidance and did not give further details, saying it would provide an update on its strategy and medium-term outlook in conjunction with the announcement of its Q2 results on July 20.
Lindemann, who used to run Viaplay’s former parent company Mtg, took over at the Nordic media company in June, replacing Anders Jensen, the boss who had led Viaplay’s aggressive expansion into streaming and its push into pricey original productions. The company’s board soured on Jensen after disastrous second-quarter results...
Viaplay said there was no change to the Group’s Q2 2023 guidance and did not give further details, saying it would provide an update on its strategy and medium-term outlook in conjunction with the announcement of its Q2 results on July 20.
Lindemann, who used to run Viaplay’s former parent company Mtg, took over at the Nordic media company in June, replacing Anders Jensen, the boss who had led Viaplay’s aggressive expansion into streaming and its push into pricey original productions. The company’s board soured on Jensen after disastrous second-quarter results...
- 7/13/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Viaplay Group has unveiled its new operating model and executive management team for the Nordics as it anticipates an economic downturn. Earlier this month, Viaplay issued a warning over its second-quarter results and told employees that it would merge the Swedish and Norwegian units of its production arm into a new entity named Viaplay Studios.
The listed banner also has new leadership — Anders Jensen stepped down and was replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann as Viaplay’s CEO and president.
Under the new operating model, which will be effective on July 1, the daily operation and strategic development of the businesses will be spearheaded by country management teams. Madsen Lindemann will be interim CEO of the Swedish and Finnish operations; Lars Bo Jeppesen has been appointed as EVP and CEO of the Danish and Icelandic operations and will join on Aug. 1.; and Kenneth Andresen has been appointed as interim CEO of the Norwegian operation.
The listed banner also has new leadership — Anders Jensen stepped down and was replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann as Viaplay’s CEO and president.
Under the new operating model, which will be effective on July 1, the daily operation and strategic development of the businesses will be spearheaded by country management teams. Madsen Lindemann will be interim CEO of the Swedish and Finnish operations; Lars Bo Jeppesen has been appointed as EVP and CEO of the Danish and Icelandic operations and will join on Aug. 1.; and Kenneth Andresen has been appointed as interim CEO of the Norwegian operation.
- 6/28/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Viaplay has unveiled a new operating model as it battles the economic downturn.
The new structure will see a team of Nordic-based execs taking on local segments and reviewing “their organisations to ensure full optimisation and focus.”
This comes after Viaplay CEO Anders Jensen stood down after five years to be replaced by former Mtg CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, and the merger of the streamer’s Swedish and Norwegian operations, as we revealed this month.
Madsen Lindemann himself will become interim CEO of Viaplay’s Finnish operations, alongside his role as President and CEO of the wider company. A permanent appointment is being sought.
Former Snap Nordics boss Lars Bo Jeppesen has been appointed as EVP and CEO of the Danish and Icelandic operations and will join on 1 August. Kenneth Andresen has been appointed as interim CEO of the Norwegian operation.
Peter Nørrelund, who recently rejoined Viaplay as EVP and Chief Sports & Business Development Officer,...
The new structure will see a team of Nordic-based execs taking on local segments and reviewing “their organisations to ensure full optimisation and focus.”
This comes after Viaplay CEO Anders Jensen stood down after five years to be replaced by former Mtg CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, and the merger of the streamer’s Swedish and Norwegian operations, as we revealed this month.
Madsen Lindemann himself will become interim CEO of Viaplay’s Finnish operations, alongside his role as President and CEO of the wider company. A permanent appointment is being sought.
Former Snap Nordics boss Lars Bo Jeppesen has been appointed as EVP and CEO of the Danish and Icelandic operations and will join on 1 August. Kenneth Andresen has been appointed as interim CEO of the Norwegian operation.
Peter Nørrelund, who recently rejoined Viaplay as EVP and Chief Sports & Business Development Officer,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart in the hotseat helming the only international TV and film newsletter you need to read this week. Scroll on. Sign up here.
Nordic & Cee Deep Dive
Rapid deterioration: Deadline’s in-depth analysis of the Danish TV market last week preceded one of the biggest shocks in the Scandi industry for decades. In the early hours of Monday morning, the region’s streaming powerhouse Viaplay issued a trading update signaling the immediate resignation of CEO Anders Jensen and the scorching of the group’s long-term financial guidance amidst rapid deterioration in the ad market and subscriber churn. Viaplay has been growing aggressively in recent years, greenlighting one original per week such as the high-profile Ronja the Robber’s Daughter adaptation (pictured), snapping up sports rights, and launching in key territories including the U.S., but it appears the growth has been a smidgeon too fast and stock has been tumbling.
Nordic & Cee Deep Dive
Rapid deterioration: Deadline’s in-depth analysis of the Danish TV market last week preceded one of the biggest shocks in the Scandi industry for decades. In the early hours of Monday morning, the region’s streaming powerhouse Viaplay issued a trading update signaling the immediate resignation of CEO Anders Jensen and the scorching of the group’s long-term financial guidance amidst rapid deterioration in the ad market and subscriber churn. Viaplay has been growing aggressively in recent years, greenlighting one original per week such as the high-profile Ronja the Robber’s Daughter adaptation (pictured), snapping up sports rights, and launching in key territories including the U.S., but it appears the growth has been a smidgeon too fast and stock has been tumbling.
- 6/9/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Days before Viaplay issued a warning over its second-quarter results, the listed Scandinavian streaming giant told employees on June 1 in an internal memo that it would merge the Swedish and Norwegian units of its production arm, Viaplay Studios, into a new entity, effective immediately.
The new umbrella, named Viaplay Studios Nordics, is headed by Ørjan Karlsen, the producer of “The Wave,” who was previously CEO of Viaplay Studios Norway. Under the strategic move, Alexander Tanno, who headed Viaplay Studios Sweden, has left the company, Variety has confirmed. The company also proceeded with layoffs, representing a “single-digit cut,” according to a source close to the company.
On June 8, Viaplay announced that its short-term outlook for 2023 was down. Viaplay said it expects to close the second quarter with 7.7 million subscribers, with sales between $414 million and $395 million; and a negative Ebit between $23 million and $27 million. Advertising revenues are expected to be down between...
The new umbrella, named Viaplay Studios Nordics, is headed by Ørjan Karlsen, the producer of “The Wave,” who was previously CEO of Viaplay Studios Norway. Under the strategic move, Alexander Tanno, who headed Viaplay Studios Sweden, has left the company, Variety has confirmed. The company also proceeded with layoffs, representing a “single-digit cut,” according to a source close to the company.
On June 8, Viaplay announced that its short-term outlook for 2023 was down. Viaplay said it expects to close the second quarter with 7.7 million subscribers, with sales between $414 million and $395 million; and a negative Ebit between $23 million and $27 million. Advertising revenues are expected to be down between...
- 6/8/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Viaplay has merged its in-house Swedish and Norwegian studios, leading to several layoffs.
The group stressed that the move, which has led to the creation of the newly-titled Viaplay Studios Nordics, is unrelated to the shock news that emerged earlier this week when Group CEO Anders Jensen resigned with immediate effect amidst poorer-than expected financials and a rapidly deteriorating ad market.
Viaplay Studios Sweden and Norway produced numerous in-house shows and movies for the Nordic streamer such as Oscar-winner Lasse Hallström’s Hilma biopic and upcoming feature Stockholm Bloodbath.
The newly-combined outfit will be led by former Viaplay Studios Norway boss Ørjan Karlsen, who reports into Azra Osmancevic, VP Operations Nordics. Alexander Tanno, who ran Viaplay Studios Sweden, is one of several layoffs. Viaplay continues to run Cee-based indie Paprika Studios.
The plan had been in the offing for some time, a spokesman stressed, becoming effective June 1, a few...
The group stressed that the move, which has led to the creation of the newly-titled Viaplay Studios Nordics, is unrelated to the shock news that emerged earlier this week when Group CEO Anders Jensen resigned with immediate effect amidst poorer-than expected financials and a rapidly deteriorating ad market.
Viaplay Studios Sweden and Norway produced numerous in-house shows and movies for the Nordic streamer such as Oscar-winner Lasse Hallström’s Hilma biopic and upcoming feature Stockholm Bloodbath.
The newly-combined outfit will be led by former Viaplay Studios Norway boss Ørjan Karlsen, who reports into Azra Osmancevic, VP Operations Nordics. Alexander Tanno, who ran Viaplay Studios Sweden, is one of several layoffs. Viaplay continues to run Cee-based indie Paprika Studios.
The plan had been in the offing for some time, a spokesman stressed, becoming effective June 1, a few...
- 6/8/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Former Mtg CEO Jorgen Madsen Lindemann takes over at Nordic streamer.
Viaplay CEO Anders Jensen has resigned after the Nordic streaming group announced a downgrade of its short-term outlook for 2023 and withdrew its long term guidance.
Jorgen Madsen Lindemann has been named as the new CEO of Viaplay Group with immediate effect. He is the former CEO of Mtg, which is the previous parent company of Viaplay Group.
Viaplay said that advertising revenues are expected to be down between 12% and 16% in the second quarter of 2023, citing a ”sharp and rapid deterioration in the TV and radio advertising markets.”
It also...
Viaplay CEO Anders Jensen has resigned after the Nordic streaming group announced a downgrade of its short-term outlook for 2023 and withdrew its long term guidance.
Jorgen Madsen Lindemann has been named as the new CEO of Viaplay Group with immediate effect. He is the former CEO of Mtg, which is the previous parent company of Viaplay Group.
Viaplay said that advertising revenues are expected to be down between 12% and 16% in the second quarter of 2023, citing a ”sharp and rapid deterioration in the TV and radio advertising markets.”
It also...
- 6/5/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Anders Jensen has stepped down as CEO of Scandinavian media group Viaplay after a lousy quarter that saw advertising sales slump and subscriber figures dip.
Jensen, who is credited with Viaplay’s aggressive move into original production and a streaming-first focus at the Nordic company, is leaving after five years as CEO and will be replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, the ex-ceo of Viaplay’s former parent company Mtg.
Viaplay announced Jensen’s resignation early Monday morning after it posted second-quarter results that showed the company booked an operating (Ebit) loss of between $23.1 million and $27.7 million (200 million to 300 million Swedish Krona) on expected sales of between 4.5 billion and 4.6 billion Swedish Krona ($415 million to $420 million).
It was bad news all round. Advertising sales dropped double digits, with ad revenues projected to be down between 12 and 16 percent on an organic basis, due to the “sharp and rapid deterioration in the TV and radio advertising markets,...
Jensen, who is credited with Viaplay’s aggressive move into original production and a streaming-first focus at the Nordic company, is leaving after five years as CEO and will be replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, the ex-ceo of Viaplay’s former parent company Mtg.
Viaplay announced Jensen’s resignation early Monday morning after it posted second-quarter results that showed the company booked an operating (Ebit) loss of between $23.1 million and $27.7 million (200 million to 300 million Swedish Krona) on expected sales of between 4.5 billion and 4.6 billion Swedish Krona ($415 million to $420 million).
It was bad news all round. Advertising sales dropped double digits, with ad revenues projected to be down between 12 and 16 percent on an organic basis, due to the “sharp and rapid deterioration in the TV and radio advertising markets,...
- 6/5/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Viaplay Group CEO Anders Jensen is stepping down immediately amidst an economic downturn that is causing rapid deterioration in the ad market and subscriber churn.
Jensen is departing after five years and will be replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, the ex-ceo of the nordic TV outfit’s former parent company Mtg.
Delivering the news via an update in the early hours of this morning, Viaplay posted expected Q2 sales of between 4.5Bn ($420M) and 4.6Bn Swedish Krona with negative Ebit of between 250M and 300M Swedish Krona. Advertising revenues are expected to be down between 12% and 16% on an organic basis, due to the “sharp and rapid deterioration in the TV and radio advertising markets,” added the group, with an update on the medium term outlook set to be provided on July 20.
Viaplay posited three factors impacting sales: lower demand in the Nordic and international streaming D2C subscriber markets and...
Jensen is departing after five years and will be replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, the ex-ceo of the nordic TV outfit’s former parent company Mtg.
Delivering the news via an update in the early hours of this morning, Viaplay posted expected Q2 sales of between 4.5Bn ($420M) and 4.6Bn Swedish Krona with negative Ebit of between 250M and 300M Swedish Krona. Advertising revenues are expected to be down between 12% and 16% on an organic basis, due to the “sharp and rapid deterioration in the TV and radio advertising markets,” added the group, with an update on the medium term outlook set to be provided on July 20.
Viaplay posited three factors impacting sales: lower demand in the Nordic and international streaming D2C subscriber markets and...
- 6/5/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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