In the latest merger and acquisition offensive on the Nordic region from foreign media groups, Warner Bros Television has signed a deal to acquire the Dutch group Eyeworks’ activities in 15 countries, including Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Once the deal goes through, the US TV group will inherit a vibrant Scandinavian film & TV drama operation with a dozen projects in various stages of development.

The deal with Eyeworks comes as part of Warner Bros TV’s strategy to expand outside the US and to establish ‘local production companies around the world, each with a mandate to develop original local programming’ according to an official statement.

Eyeworks has been producing and distributing content across different genres since 2001 and has boosted its Scandinavian film and TV drama output over the last couple of years under Poa Strömberg’s (pictured)  leadership. Although the sale to Warner Bros TV will not be completed before several months, subject to regulatory approvals, changes to Eyeworks’ Scandinavian operations are expected. “We don’t know if the acquisition will mean for Eyeworks to change name and how it will impact our activities, but it’s all very exciting,” said Strömberg to nordiskfilmogtvfond.com.

In the meantime, the former entertainment lawyer continues to expand Eyeworks Scandinavia’s Film & TV Drama activities and has outlined for us the various projects in development.

Firstly, as part of a deal struck last September with Fox Television Studios and concerning the development of original Scandinavian scripts for the US and international markets, two projects are already in development. The first involves Swedish writer Anders Weidemann (30 Degrees in February) and the second the Emmy-award-winning Danish duo Peter Thorsboe and Mai Brostrøm.

In Denmark, Eyeworks has two dramas series in development:
- the 10x45’ high profile crime series The DNA Group is written by Torleif Hoppe (episodic writer on the original Forbrydelsen/The Killing and Those Who Kill). The DKK 75 million (€10m) series is produced for TV2 Denmark.

- the 8x30’ Fifty Fifty (Mit fifty fiftty liv) which received support from the DFI Public Service Pool is a youth series about kids in divorced families splitting their time with each parent. Head-writers are Tine Frellesen & Maj-Britt Langdal. The series is produced by Rasmus Kastberg and the TV mogul and former DR Head of Fiction Ingolf Gabold. “Having Ingolf in our team has meant a lot to us,” said Strömberg. “He has the ability to develop projects to the highest level and his international contacts have helped us reach out and secure foreign partners”.

In Sweden projects include:
- a new web exclusive drama series like the original Portkod 1321 that was nominated for the Kristallen national television awards.

- the third instalment in the Sune film series (‘Andersson Family)’ written by Hannes Holm.  Sune i fjällen is set to start filming on March 10. The second film in the trilogy Sune på bilsemester has sold nearly 494,000 tickets in Sweden.

- a high profile 3x50’ TV drama about the foundation of the Nobel Prize produced for SVT. Cast and crew of the SEK53-60m (€6-6.7m) drama series will be announced before MIPTV.

- four new episodes of Maria Wern crime series produced for TV4.

In Finland Eyeworks recently took over Matila Röhr Production’s television arm and has kept great relationships with the companies’ joint MDs Ilkka Matila and Marko Röhr. Matila and Eyeworks Sweden’s Patrick Ryborn have co-produced Leif Lindblom’s film Rasberry Boat Refugee, set to open in cinemas later this year, and other co-productions could follow, says Strömberg.

Finally in Norway Eyeworks’ is planning to launch its scripted division sometime in 2015, once current negotiations with Norwegian writers will be finalised.