DR, SVT, NRK, Yle, RÚV team up with ZDF, NPO, VRT in New8 Alliance

Through the New8 venture signed for an initial three-year period, eight premium series will be co-produced by the five Nordic pubcasters with ZDF in Germany, NPO in the Netherlands and VRT in Belgium.

Each project will therefore be guaranteed distribution in the Nordic region as well as in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium.

As stated by the broadcasting partners on Tuesday, New8 is “in many ways, an expansion of the already existing trust-based Nordic collaboration” - ie the Nordic 12 (or N12) alliance whereby 12 Nordic drama series a year are being co-produced by DR, SVT, NRK, Yle and RÚV and pre-bought for the Nordic region.

Indeed since 2018, more than 60 high quality Nordic drama series have been co-financed through this strong Nordic public service broadcasting alliance, such as Carmen Curlers, State of Happiness, Paradise, Thin Blue Line and Happily Never After.

According to Hans-Jørgen Osnes, head of international financing, TV drama at NRK, New8 will run parallel to N12, although many titles in the N12 package will also be part of New8.

“It will also be possible for a series to be New8 but not an N12 series”, he added.

Asked to expand on the New8 financing set up, Osnes said it will follow the N12 model, whereby the projects are selected by the individual head of drama who at an early stage offers the producer of each project the possibility to raise the financing through the pubcasters’ alliance. If the producer choses such a model, the project secures distribution in the partners’ territories and the co-productions are agreed at pre-negotiated prices.

Regarding the pre-buys from each pubcaster, Osnes said they are based on the size of the country’s population (not market share), and aligned to the market price of projects of similar type.

Whereas rights for the N12 titles are negotiated for a 12-month period in the Nordic region, New8 series will benefit from a slightly longer exploitation period, and rights will differ slightly from territory to territory, says Osnes.

Questioned whether ZDF Studios would have a first look at the New8 slate, the NRK executive said producers will have “full freedom to choose an international distributor for their series.”

"It is a great opportunity to join forces and collaborate with ZDF, NPO and VRT in addition to the proven collaboration with the Nordic public companies,” commented Birgir Sigfússon Head of Media & Production at RÚV.

"We wish to strengthen the Nordic and European collaboration on creating, distributing and financing quality series. That is why we are very happy that we have succeeded in creating a local position in a market dominated by international streaming services", added Henriette Marienlund, head of fiction and development at DR.

Her Swedish counterpart Anna Croneman from SVT also said: “The Nordic public-service companies have a long history of successful collaborations and in these turbulent times we want to take this way of working to the next level. At SVT we are incredibly happy to join forces with such powerful partners as ZDF, VRT and NPO to be able to offer our audience even more high-end drama.”

The first New8 series greenlit this year will be available next year in all partner territories.

The New8 alliance was announced October 10 at the MIA Market in Rome by Croneman, Osnes with ZDF’s SVP international fiction Dr Simone Emmelius and VRT’s international drama expert Elly Vervloet.

The MIA-International Audiovisual Market held October 9-13, has been growing in strength since its inception in 2015. This year’s event comprises over 80 events, 5 content showcases, 4 pitching forums, more than 60 market screenings, and over 120 selected projects.

For the full programme, check: https://www.miamarket.it/en/