NENT Group reorganising NENT Studios to further focus on scripted drama and international ambitions
- Initiative reflects the proven growth opportunities within scripted drama production and of Viaplay streaming service as an anchor investor in NENT Studios’ scripted productions
- NENT Studios’ non-scripted production, branded entertainment and events businesses to be divested
- Intention to bring equity partner into the scripted production business in order to contribute to the further development of the output and operations
Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), the Nordic region’s leading streaming company, today announced that it is reorganising NENT Studios – its content production and distribution business that comprises 32 companies in 17 countries – into a new organisation focused on scripted drama production, both series and movies, and distribution. As part of the reorganisation, the non-scripted production, branded entertainment and events businesses will be divested. NENT Group also intends to bring a minority equity partner into its scripted drama production business, in order to contribute to the further development of the output and operations.
The reorganisation reflects NENT Group’s focus on the growth potential in scripted drama and the significant synergies with its Viaplay streaming service, which is a big and growing customer of the scripted production companies. Viaplay premiered 21 high quality original productions in 2019, expects to premiere more than 30 original productions in 2020, and has the ambition to premiere a minimum of 40 original productions per year in the future.
The new and focused scripted production business will comprise NENT Studios’ Nordic production companies Brain Academy Nordics, Nice Drama, EPIQ and Monster Scripted; its CEE production company Paprika; NENT Studios’ UK operations including DRG and NENT Group’s joint venture with FilmNation Entertainment; its US based scripted production company Brain Academy US; and NENT Group’s investment in the Los Angeles based studio Picturestart. The organisation will be focused on developing a comprehensive slate of new formats and selling existing ones internationally. NENT Studios’ scripted production and distribution companies together account for approximately 45% of its total sales and a significant proportion of its profits.
NENT Studios’ successful non-scripted production, branded entertainment, and events companies primarily work with external clients and comprise Strix, Baluba, Monster Entertainment, Novemberfilm, Moskito, Rakett, Strong Productions, and Production House; Splay One; Playroom, One Big Happy Family, and Grillifilms, respectively.
The sales process will be conducted during the first half of 2020 and NENT Group has appointed ACF as financial advisers for the sale of the non-scripted production and events companies, and Stella EOC for the sale of the branded entertainment business Splay One, which will be conducted separately.
Anders Jensen, NENT Group President and CEO: “This reorganisation reflects how important it is for us to focus even further on the opportunity we have with scripted original content, its relevance for our Viaplay streaming service and the expansion ambitions that we have for the coming years. We therefore have a clear ambition to grow the number of NENT Studios produced Viaplay Originals. We have also proven that these and many other shows are attractive to international media partners, who have picked up the rights for key territories around the world. We have had talks with several third parties who have expressed strong interest in investing in the exciting journey with the reorganised NENT Studios. Our successful non-scripted, branded entertainment and events companies primarily work with third party clients, which is why we believe that they will benefit from new owners that are more focused on these segments of the market.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Nordic Entertainment Group AB (publ) (NENT Group) is the Nordic region’s leading entertainment provider. We entertain millions of people every day with our streaming services, TV channels and radio stations, and our production companies create content that is experienced around the world. We make life more entertaining by telling stories, touching lives and expanding worlds – from live sports, movies and series to music and original shows. Headquartered in Stockholm, NENT Group is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘NENT A’ and ‘NENT B’).
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