The main television broadcaster in Finland, MTV, which has produced popular shows like “Conflict” (sold globally by Keshet International) and “Helsinki Crimes” (distributed internationally by Oble Entertainment), is choosing to focus on fewer but larger dramas and increasing its partnerships for co-productions within the Nordic region and beyond.
The updated strategy of MTV should remain unaffected by its upcoming transition from Telia to Schibsted Media, as stated by CEO Johannes Leppänen: “MTV holds a powerful position in the Finnish market and Schibsted Media is eager to bolster MTV’s leading role in drama moving forward,” he mentioned to EbMaster.
The revamping of drama production and expansion strategy by the Finnish broadcaster began about a year and a half ago, but will reach a higher intensity in 2025. “We currently have approximately ten co-production projects underway, and we aim to approve some of them before the summer,” said Janne Vakio, MTV’s manager for commissions and content development. “After that, our next goal is the New Year.
In simpler terms, the TV executive claims that the flexible-windowing approach, which is a strategy used in the post-Peak TV era, has significantly transformed MTV’s operations.
As a dedicated cinephile, I’ve always been passionate about backing lower-budget productions entirely and securing exclusive rights for Finland. However, times have changed, and we are now open to various distribution strategies known as windowing configurations. Instead, we are focusing on domestic shows with a higher quality standard and international appeal. For instance, our groundbreaking crime series ‘Helsinki Crimes’ was sold the second window rights to Netflix, and in a similar vein, we sealed a second window deal with Yle for our gripping thriller “A Good Family.
The drama executive acknowledged that focusing on larger-scale projects could potentially boost our audience numbers, even though we share rights with other platforms. His strategy involves investing in around six premium dramas annually, in addition to pre-purchases and acquisitions.
Crime, Romance
When it comes to preferred genres, crime stories in various forms, especially psychological thrillers, hold the highest position on Vakio’s list. However, he expresses a desire for more romance-themed projects to provide a touch of dreaminess amidst today’s stressful situations. To meet the commercial requirements of the Finnish broadcasting company, all proposed projects need to appeal to the broadest audience possible, spanning both digital and linear platforms offered by MTV.
Leading among MTV’s upcoming projects is the crime thriller “The Last One Vanished,” which is adapted from a novel penned by Irish writer and screenplay creator Jo Spain (“Harry Wild”).
Vakio, having secured a contract for TV rights with Finland’s leading independent studio Yellow Film & TV, enthusiastically shares that the story is built around a robust Intellectual Property (IP), created by an English author with a deep affection for Lapland. This stunning landscape serves as the backdrop for the engaging plot, and to add a twist, there’s indeed a mysterious dead body involved!
At the end of January’s Göteborg TV Drama Vision, three additional crime series consisting of six episodes each were highlighted for possible collaboration.
Titled “Not a Time to Die,” this production is jointly produced by Finland’s Just Republic and Sweden’s Anagram. The screenplay is shared by Jemina Jokisalo, known for “Money Shot” and “Guts,” and Stephen Uhlander, who has worked on “Furia” and “The Girl from Oslo.” This film is adapted from Kari Hautamäki’s popular novels. The narrative revolves around the escalating gang conflicts, as witnessed by a paramedic, unfolding across Sweden and Finland.
The Waking” is a collaborative effort between Pixcom and Dionysos Films, hailing from both Canada and Finland. The narrative, written by Charles Dionne, revolves around the unexpected return of a teenage boy, causing unrest in a Finnish immigrant family residing in Quebec. Interestingly, we have many similarities with Canada – one of which is our beloved national pastime, ice hockey! Despite the storyline not focusing on ice hockey, there will indeed be some ice hockey scenes in this production,” shares Vakio, who believes that the tale of a Finnish family attempting to acclimate in Quebec should prove captivating for MTV audiences.
The series ‘Transporter,’ created jointly by Finland’s Whatever Group and Norway’s Rein Film, follows a heart transplant coordinator. She uncovers a shocking truth: the thief of a stolen heart is none other than her long-lost sister, Oona. This revelation sets the stage for an intense race-against-time scenario as she strives to save her sister’s life.
REinvent’s Quartet
Four projects with the go-ahead have been chosen for global distribution by REinvent, a company based in Copenhagen.
Among the must-see shows at Mipcom 2024, recommended by EbMaster, is the crime thriller “Reykjavik 112.” This series is adapted from the best-selling books by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir. Vakio, speaking about the New Media Arc-ndF production, expressed enthusiasm for this being their first co-production with Iceland’s leading streaming platform, Síminn. They are also keen to produce similar projects in collaboration with other Nordic partners, and this project is set to be delivered this summer.
Deception” (Kerma) – Expected Delivery in Q4 2025
This exciting production by Fire Monkey follows the tale of a young protagonist on a quest for vengeance. Instead of infiltrating, he embeds himself within an influential circle of Finland’s youthful elite.
In addition to these, psychological thrillers such as “The Girl Who Disappeared” from ReelMedia, “L/over” by Gutsy Animations, and “The Revenge” represented by Fremantle, will be released in 2026. These are also joined by “Moskito Television’s” production, “The Revenge”.
or
For the year 2026, we have three psychological thrillers on the horizon: “The Girl Who Disappeared” from ReelMedia, “L/over” from Gutsy Animations, and “The Revenge”, represented by Fremantle. Additionally, “The Revenge” is a production of Moskito Television as well.
As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that a collection of top-tier cinematic productions, originating from the creative minds of Sweden, are slated for release in 2025 and 2026. These captivating films are part of an ambitious project commissioned not just by MTV’s Swedish sister broadcasting station TV4, but also by Schibsted Media Group. Get ready to embark on a cinematic journey filled with compelling narratives and stunning visuals!
Following the success of “Cry Wolf,” a series airing on MTV that’s adapted from Hans Rosenfeldt’s debut novel and produced by Fifth Season, we have three upcoming releases. In March, political thriller “The Doctrine,” distributed by Newen Connect, will make its debut. Later this year, sci-fi series “We Come in Peace,” co-produced by Frank Spotnitz of “The X-Files” fame and distributed by Newen Connect, will also premiere.
Read More
- INJ PREDICTION. INJ cryptocurrency
- SPELL PREDICTION. SPELL cryptocurrency
- How To Travel Between Maps In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- The Hilarious Truth Behind FIFA’s ‘Fake’ Pack Luck: Zwe’s Epic Journey
- How to Craft Reforged Radzig Kobyla’s Sword in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- How to find the Medicine Book and cure Thomas in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- Destiny 2: Countdown to Episode Heresy’s End & Community Reactions
- Deep Rock Galactic: Painful Missions That Will Test Your Skills
- When will Sonic the Hedgehog 3 be on Paramount Plus?
2025-02-27 13:17