The new Nordic production hub will focus on scripted content with international appeal, and oversee the activities of both Fisher King in Helsinki, and Stockholm-based Dramacorp, joint venture founded in 2016 by Patrick Nebout and Beta Film.

Beta Nordic Studios will be run by Beta Film’s EVP Justus Riesenkampff and newly-appointed CEO Martin Håkansson, formerly at Lagardère Sports and Nice Entertainment Group. The move is seen as a logical step for Munich-based Beta Film, one of Europe’s largest sales and licensing companies, which is expanding into production and has been aggressive in such capital investments elsewhere in leading European brands such as Germany’s X Filme, creators of Babylon Berlin.

Håkansson said: “Despite a period of intense consolidation, there are still opportunities in the Nordic market. Fisher King is a fine example; it has succeeded in creating ratings-busting drama for the domestic market, while developing and delivering ideas strong enough to take on the world. Crucially, however, this is not an M&A strip-and-sell mission — in fact, it is the very opposite. Our mission is to combine the Nordic genius for production with Beta Film’s production experience and distribution power to create a joint venture that will deliver great, BNS-branded entertainment for years to come.”

Founded in 2013 by Matti Halonen and Miikko Oikkonen, Fisher King has contributed to raising the awareness of the international market on Finnish premium content with series such as the fantasy drama Nymphs and crime family drama Bordertown, sold to more than 180 territories.

Speaking to nordicfilmandtvnews.com, Halonen said: ”Thanks to our new joint venture with Beta Film, we will have more muscle to take on new challenges as we want to increase the volume of production of high-end Finnish series with an international appeal.”

The German distributor will have a first look option on all titles produced by Fisher King, which will still hold “the creative and financial freedom to go where it makes sense”, notes the executive producer.

In terms of editorial strategy, Halonen says he will continue to focus on highly recognisable branded serialised drama such as Bordertown. The third and final season of the crime drama about inspector Kari Sojonen (Ville Virtanen) will premiere on Yle this December.

“The last season entirely shot during the winter will be very emotional,” stresses Halonen. Federation Entertainment who co-financed the show handles world distribution.

Upcoming long-running series created by show-runner Oikkonen and developed in writers rooms include:

• Helsinki Syndrome, commissioned by Yle. The hostage thriller based on true events, is set both in 1990 and nowadays. Halonen says the budget will be ‘slightly under €1m an episode'.
• Breaking Wave, a contemporary drama set in Northern Finland dealing with environmental issues. “It is pure western territory up north, and we will play with this concept,” says the Finnish executive.

Fisher King has also handled production services on Dramacorp’s upcoming young adult-oriented series Cryptid (10x22') that just finished shooting in Turku. The supernatural thriller is produced for Viaplay, with backing from Business Finland.