sweden Archives - Banijay Group

Celebrities Embark on The Journey of a Lifetime in Meter TV’s Adventure Series

12th August 2022 10:22 am Comments Off

Banijay today announces Swedish label Meter TV, part of Banijay Nordic, will produce a brand-new adventure reality show, The Journey – 15 Days in Nepal for Viaplay Group. This new format is based on the innovative concept created by fellow Banijay label Mastiff TV Denmark and will air on Viaplay and TV3.

In The Journey, six celebrities embark on an adventure of a lifetime. They travel through the deepest depths of the Nepalese jungle, trekking alongside elephants, tigers, and rhinos, to reach the spectacular Himalayan mountains. Along the way, they will embrace the wilderness, learn about the rich culture from those they meet, and discover how to fend for themselves in the mysterious and unfamiliar terrain. The upcoming Swedish series features renowned actors Peter Stormare (Fargo, The Box, American Gods) and Izabella Scorupco (Hidden, Goldeneye), comedian Alfred Svensson and World Champion swimmer Therese Alshammar, amongst others.

Madelene Hansson, Managing Director, Meter TV says: “We are looking forward to taking Viaplay’s audience on this epic adventure and bringing Mastiff TV’s format to life. Whilst we know a lot about the celebrities, when taken out of their comfort zone they are just like us. We’re seeing a huge thirst for adventure formats set in unknown locations, and this show has been an exhilarating experience which is sure to entertain audiences of all ages.”

David Sidebotham, Chief Creative Officer, Mastiff TV Denmark comments: “With continuing strong demand for adventure reality, we are proud to work with Viaplay to create something innovative, thrilling, and authentic, with genuine self-development for the celebrities involved. The Journey is in safe hands with Meter TV, exploring the wonderful nature of our planet and bringing a spirit of discovery and adventure to Viaplay’s audience.”

Filippa Wallestam, EVP and Chief Content Officer at Nordic Entertainment Group adds: “We will get to accompany some of our top actors, athletes, and comedians on the adventure of a lifetime with all that it entails, from challenges to inner reflections. The authenticity of this adventure is something I hope and believe our viewers will enjoy.”

The Swedish production company, Meter TV is behind global brands like MasterChef, Big Brother, LEGO^®Masters, and Family Food Fight. In addition to The Journey – 15 Days in Nepal, Mastiff TV Denmark is known for creating hit formats like Drag Me Out which has recently been adapted in Norway, as well as state of the art nature documentary Wild Wonderful Denmark, and cultural fact-ent format The Big Premiere; as well as producing shows such as SAS: Who Dares Wins, Survivor, Best Singers, and Versus.

Banijay Factory Develops Original New Dating Show in Sign Language

13th October 2021 9:59 am Comments Off

Banijay today confirms Nordic label, Banijay Factory, has developed Sexy Hands for SVT1. This format, produced by Delta Studios, is the first dating show to be made anywhere in the world where deaf singletons and their hearing allies can’t see each other physically, apart from their hands, and use sign language to determine if there is a romantic connection or not.

Sexy Hands is a new dating format showcasing the true power of sign language, and where communication and personality is everything. Three potential suitors sign their hearts out, competing to win the affection of a singleton. As they can’t see one-another apart from their hands, due to the studio’s ‘love’ wall, they must rely on sign to chat, flirt, and make a great first impression in a series of enticing and revealing rounds, designed to get the potential couples better acquainted. Round after round the singleton eliminates the candidates until one lucky suitor remains. Will it be love at first sign when the couple finally come face-to-face and go on a date, or will they be left searching for a spark?

Robert Andersson, Senior Format Developer at Banijay Factory and creator of Sexy Hands says: “We’re proud to be playing a small part in making pop culture more inclusive and diverse. Sexy Hands is a fast-paced, visually captivating, fun, and literally loud blind-dating format where both deaf and hearing, sign language savvy singles come looking for love. It is a new spin on the popular dating genre, but also the first of its kind to place sign language in equal footing with the spoken word.”

James Townley, Global Head of Content Development at Banijay comments: “Communication in dating and relationships is key and Sexy Hands represents a large community who get to know one another through sign language. This inclusive and refreshing format will enrich the dating genre, giving unique insight into the linguistic identity of people who are deaf and those that use sign language, and we’re extremely pleased to have a new format in the catalogue which reiterates our commitment to diversity both on and off screen.”

Banijay Factory’s latest concept, Sexy Hands joins the company’s burgeoning slate, having already developedFood & Fire alongside Mastiff Sweden and Expedition Kahawa with Jarowskij. Furthermore, it also adds to Banijay Nordic’s entertainment formats which includes Mastiff Denmark’s Drag Me Out, whose premiere was the best new launch for TV 2 Zulu in 2021, and the format among Banijay’s international highlights for the autumn. Made up of 17 production companies, Banijay Nordic produces some of the region’s biggest formats, from reality shows like Survivor and Paradise Hotel, to key scripted titles such as Wallander and A Class Apart.

Aprons at the Ready – as Banijay’s Family Food Fight Heads to Two More European Territories

27th April 2021 9:35 am Comments Off

Banijay today announces two new European deals for global culinary format Family Food Fight.

Sweden’s SVT and Polsat TV have become the latest broadcasters to commission Family Food Fight from Banijay’s Meter and Endemol Shine Poland, with both versions set to air later on in the year.

The format, which was first created by Endemol Shine Australia, has now been adapted in eleven markets with remakes across Europe, as well as Brazil and the US. Last month, the Italian version returned to Sky Uno, this time featuring families who own their own restaurants. Endemol Shine Italy also launched a TikTok channel alongside the show. The channel already has amassed a following of nearly 10,000 people in two months, allowing fans to interact 24/7 with the content. Additionally, the number of social media interactions has also tripled in comparison to the previous series.

Family Food Fight sees families battle it out in the kitchen for the title of the nation’s best food family. In each episode, they are tasked with creating dishes for different occasions and guest numbers. Tapping into their individual cultures, knowledge and family secrets, the contestants will produce meals which they hope will impress the judges.

Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay adds: “Cooking competitions are proven ratings hits and Family Food Fight bridges the gap between high-end cuisine and comfort food. The focus of this format is about accessible cooking, inspiring the audience to try some new recipes at a time when eating out is not always possible.”

Meter Television, part of Banijay Nordics, produces local adaptations of a number of super brand formats including MasterChef, which set an all-time record in 2020 by producing all five versions of the format in one year. Big Brother is currently on-air for its second reboot season and is strongly outperforming the slot average, while drawing in the key younger audience. The company is also behind the first Nordic version of global hit, LEGO Masters, which performed exceptionally well, launching with a 28.2% market share.

Since launching over twenty years ago, Endemol Shine Poland has specialised in entertainment and bringing global hits to the local market. Recent and forthcoming non-scripted hits include Fort Boyard, MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, Big Brother and LEGO Masters. It also offers production hub opportunities for large-scale formats such as The Wall.

Banijay Rights Sells Bäckström to AMC Networks’ Acorn TV in US and UK

1st February 2021 2:45 pm Comments Off

Global distributor Banijay Rights, today announces Swedish crime thriller, Bäckström, will return for a second season. Meanwhile, series one has been picked up by AMC Networks in the UK, Canada and US, for its streaming service, Acorn TV.

The crime drama series centres around detective Evert Backstrom, a man famous for having solved 99% of all cases he has taken on. Bäckström, is produced by Yellow Bird for C More and TV4 in co-production with Film i Väst and ARD Degeto.

Series 1 (6 x 45’) is based on Leif GW Persson’s novel, Can You Die Twice?. When a bullet ridden skull is found in the Swedish archipelago, DNA-results confirm it belongs to a victim of Thailand’s 2004 tsunami. Bäckström is faced with an inexplicable mystery that even he could not have imagined. Can you die twice?

Bäckström’s aversion for bureaucracy, the rules, bosses, colleagues, and well, fellow human beings in general, is rooted in his self-image of being a genius and the only investigator in the world worthy of the name. His role as a criminology expert on the TV show ‘True Crime’ has made him a minor celebrity among everyday citizens as well as the ‘riffraff’. He’s adored and despised in equal measures. He leaves chaos and resentment in his wake, but people put up with it because his track record for solving murder cases is unparalleled in… well, the world.

Premiering on 8^th February in the UK, Bäckström, will be available to North American audiences later this Spring.

Bäckström series 2 was recently announced in Sweden, with filming due to commence in Spring. This time the case is connected to a macabre music box, which it seems to rest a curse on. The six-part second season will be largely based on Leif GW Persso’s novel, The Sword of Justice, with Kjell Bergqvist playing the lead once again.

Jarowskij brings SAS: Who Dares Wins to Sweden

22nd January 2021 10:19 am Comments Off

Swedish label Jarowskij, a Banijay Nordic company, today announces an 8 part adaptation of Banijay Rights format, SAS: Who Dares Wins for TV4.

The new Swedish version of one of the toughest shows on television will see 18 civilian volunteers participate in a Special Forces training camp, supervised by 4 former instructors.

SAS: Who Dares Wins is represented internationally by Banijay Rights, and was originally created by UK production company Minnow Films. The format has been produced in six markets, including the UK, US, France, and Australia, where a second series was recently commissioned. In Denmark, where three seasons have aired, Mastiff Denmark, a Banijay company are producing a celebrity version for TV2, which will broadcast in the spring.

Iréne Lindblad, Chief Executive Officer at Jarowskij says; “SAS: Who Dares Wins is an intensely gripping format, and the TV4 audience will revel in the participant’s resilience, which is put to the test by the SAS professionals. Navigating conditions within the spectacular Swedish terrain won’t be easy but will certainly make great television.”

Jarowskij is behind numerous scripted and non-scripted hits including Black Lake, The Restaurant, We Got This, Welcome to Sweden, Wild Kids, Fort Boyard Sweden and many many more.

Headed up by CEO Jacob  Houlind, Banijay Nordic spans Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, as well as the UK and US, following the expansion of Yellow Bird. There are 24 production companies within the Banijay Nordic footprint, bringing together a world-class offering in scripted and non-scripted programming.

SAS: Who Dares Wins Sweden will air soon on TV4. It will be executive produced by Gustav Carlsson at TV4 and Magnus Larsson at Jarowskij.

Filmlance Acquires Television Rights to Karin Smirnoff’s Critically-Acclaimed Trilogy

30th November 2020 10:05 am Comments Off

Banijay today announces scripted producer Filmlance has acquired the television rights from Politiken Literary Agency to the critically-acclaimed Jana Kippo trilogy from well-known Swedish author, Karin Smirnoff.

The series of best-selling novels, based on character Jana Kippo, is set to be developed into a new Swedish drama with international potential.

The producer is Anna Wallmark at Filmlance, who was behind the company’s most recent hit Top Dog, together with Teresa Alldén and Olof Spaak.

The Jana Kippo trilogy has sold more than half a million copies in Sweden and has been translated in multiple European languages, including English.

The story begins with Jana Kippo returning to her family village of Smalånger, moving into her childhood home to get Bror, her alcoholic twin brother’s life in order. The pair have a common childhood trauma and a death in the village takes a heavy toll. Maria was found dead in a forest glade and no one knows what happened, did she commit suicide or was she murdered? The longer Jana stays in her home village, the more she gets to know about both Maria and herself.

Filmlance’s Managing Director Hanne Palmquist comments; “Karin Smirnoff is one of the most interesting Swedish authors around and we are incredibly proud to be working on what is sure to be a powerful, world-class television production. This unique story of love, betrayal, revenge and lust contains everything needed to create a gripping, exciting and constantly surprising drama.”

Karin Smirnoff (b. 1964) lives in Piteå, Sweden, and worked as a journalist before buying a wood factory. After a few years, she longed to return to writing and applied to Lund University’s writing school with what would become her debut: ‘I Went Down to My Brother’, which was nominated for the August Prize 2018 for Fiction. The second book was published in the spring of 2019, and the third book in the spring of 2020.

Filmlance nominated for Swedish Export Award for Cultural and Creative Industries

12th October 2020 2:36 pm Comments Off

Filmlance, a Banijay company today announces it has been nominated for the Swedish government’s Export Award for Cultural and Creative Industries.

Filmlance is among the five nominees for the award which acknowledges individuals or companies that in 2019 contributed towards Swedish exports and strengthened the image of Sweden internationally. Winners will be announced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Foreign Trade Anna Hallberg on 23 October.

Helena Åkerman, Deputy CEO of Filmlance comments; “Sweden has become a hallmark of quality for international drama productions and we believe this has strengthened the image of Sweden as a creative nation with an innovative television industry. This nomination means a lot to the industry as a whole, with our strong storytelling and proven global demand for our high-quality productions. We have both the right skills and experience to drive the local production industry forward, ensuring Sweden is associated with world-class drama.”

The critically-acclaimed production company is one of Sweden’s largest producers and is behind numerous global hits. Most recent credits include Caliphate, which broke records for SVT Play and launched globally on Netflix earlier this year. Filmlance is also behind Bron/ Broen, which has sold to 188 countries and has been adapted seven times, with the most recent focusing on the Singapore and Malaysian borders.

Also from Filmlance is Top Dog, which launched this week on CMore and TV4, and the highly-anticipated new drama, BearTown, which premieres on HBO Europe on October 18^th. The company is currently in production for Vinterviken 2021 for Netflix.

Banijay Names Jacob Houlind CEO for Banijay Nordic

13th August 2020 8:17 am Comments Off

Leading content producer and distributor, Banijay, today confirms Jacob Houlind as CEO, Banijay Nordic. Set to oversee all operations across its portfolio of 24 companies, his remit spans Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the UK and U.S., following the recent expansion of Yellow Bird.

Driving a multi-brand strategy, which promotes creativity, diversity and originality, Houlind will be at the forefront of managing the territory’s investment in creativity and content development. Finding, nurturing and developing talent, he will continue to build a home for the best creatives across the Nordics. And, together with Banijay and Banijay Rights, the Nordic division will continue to focus on local and innovative IP with global appeal.

Bringing together a leading offering, the Banijay Nordic portfolio comprises – Norway: Mastiff, Nordisk Film & TV, Rubicon and Screen Media; Sweden: Meter, Mastiff, Jarowskij, Nordisk Film TV, Filmlance, YellowBird, STO-CPH, Factory and MAG5; Finland: Banijay Finland, EndemolShine Finland and Zodiak Finland; Denmark: Metronome, Mastiff, Nordisk Film TV, Pineapple Entertainment, Banijay Nordic Mobile and Respirator; UK: YellowBird UK and U.S.: Yellow Bird US.A creative hotbed, the business produces some of the region’s biggest hits including Survivor, The Island, Fort Boyard, MasterChef, All Against 1, Best Singer, Big Brother, Luxury Trap, Biggest Loser, 71 Degrees North, The Wall, Paradise Hotel,All Together Now, Good Morningand Evening Denmark, Good Morning and Evening Norway, Millennium, The Bridge, Wallander and Netflix’s upcoming Young Wallander, Khalifate, Beck, The Restaurant and Sandham Murders.

The integration process is now in progress and is expected to be complete by the fall. Karin Stjärne will subsequently leave the business on 31 August 2020 having been CEO of Endemol Shine Nordics since 2017. While in role, she built a successful operation, increased international format sales, secured a number of new titles including Family Food Fight, The Wall, The Heist and Lego Masters, and drove a number of returners such as Biggest Loser and Big Brother. Widening the footprint of MasterChef both in number of episodes, spin-off series and new productions across the Nordics, she also helped Norwegian label Rubicon thrive, supporting the sale of the first original Norwegian drama, Beforeigners, to HBO Nordic.

Marco Bassetti, CEO, Banijay comments: “Jacob has long been a part of Banijay’s journey. An entrepreneur with a strong creative eye, he is an admirable leader, commercially astute and the best pair of hands to oversee what will be an even more significant region for us moving forwards. With scale, an immense portfolio of IP and some of the best talent in the business, we are excited to see what he and the team have in store for the future. In the meantime, I’d like to thank Karin for her efforts over the years in building up the EndemolShine Nordics portfolio and production offering.”

Jacob Houlind comments:“Banijay Nordic has long been the home of some of the region’s strongest talent and I am honoured to be welcoming a host of new creative entrepreneurs into the fold. Combining the strengths of both groups and continuing a multi-brand strategy with a strong focus on creativity, I hope Banijay Nordic will long-continue to be a renowned home for the best creatives in the region – on and off-screen, and a home for IP that travels the world. A special thanks goes to Karin who has built a strong operation in EndemolShine Nordics and successfully put new and successful scripted, as well as non-scripted titles on the Nordic map.”

Houlind has been Group CEO and co-owner of Nordisk Film TV since February 2006, selling the company to Banijay in 2009. He later took up the position of Group CEO of Banijay Nordic, as a result of the merger of former Nordisk Film TV in the Nordics and Zodiak Media.

Banijay Rights Sells We Got This To Sundance Now

18th June 2020 12:00 am Comments Off

Banijay Rights, the leading distribution arm of Banijay Group, today announces idiosyncratic crime thriller, We Got This, has been picked up by AMC Networks in the US, Canada and UK, for its streaming service Sundance Now.

The 6 x 45’ scripted series, due to air this autumn, sees George English, an American living in Sweden, try to solve his financial woes with an unlikely solution – a 50 million Swedish Crown reward for solving the 30-year-old murder of the former prime minister, Olof Palme. English, played by Schiaffino Musarra, is grieving from the recent death of his father, and is then hit by the collapse of his career, when he receives an unsurmountable tax bill. Naturally, he begins to imagine that cracking the Palme case could be the simple answer to all his problems.

Together with his closest friend, a not-so-intrepid journalist, who wants nothing to do with the case, a whacky conspiracy theorist and a former police officer, they follow the case into a web of twisted theories. After a major discovery, George finds himself on a head-on collision course with history, as their investigation goes from a laughing stock to a very real and closely-watched operation by the media, politicians, titans of industry and organisations that stretch far beyond the Swedish borders that, for a variety of reasons, would rather this case remain forever unsolved.

Winner of the Series Mania 2018 co-pitch, We Got This is produced by Banijay Group’s Jarowskij and Film I Väst for public broadcaster SVT and Viaplay. Besides playing the lead role, Schiaffino Musarra is also the series creator and head writer. The drama finished airing in Sweden just days ahead of the announcement by the Chief Prosecutor, despite no new evidence, to close the Palme murder investigation, which had remained open since 1986.

Sundance Now will feature its US and Canadian premiere in September 2020 with its UK date to-be-determined.

Andreas Lemos, VP of Sales – North America, Banijay Rights comments,“We are thrilled to have a prestigious partner like Sundance Now on board for We Got This. North American and UK audiences will soon be able to enjoy this entertaining dark comedy born out of the unique mind of star and creator Musarra but built around the true-life mystery surrounding the assassination of Swedish PM Olof Palme.”

Shannon Cooper, VP of Programming, Sundance Now, adds, “Sundance Now subscribers love to stream stories based on true crimes so this fascinating and funny approach to a real event makes for an extremely enjoyable series. We’re excited to partner with our friends at Banijay Rights to bring this true-life mystery to viewers in the US and UK.”

Streaming service Sundance Now offers a rich selection of original and exclusive series from engrossing true crime to heart-stopping dramas, and fiercely intelligent thrillers from around the world; all streaming commercial-free.

Jarowskij’s Wild Kids Returns to Sweden

17th June 2019 12:00 am Comments Off

Jarowskij, a Banijay Group Company, announces a new series of hit show, Wild Kids, is coming to TV4 and C More in 2020.

The new series of Wild Kids will see TV4 talent, Linda Lindorff, take on the role of host. The award-winning series, distributed by Banijay Rights, sees two teams of children competing to win a trip of a lifetime. In each episode, the participants take part in physical and knowledge-based challenges in order to win new teammates and increase their chances in the final competition. However, on this show, anything can happen, and no winning team can be predicted.

Outside the challenges, the cameras roll on the kids’ everyday life in camp – constructing their shelters, cooking over an open fire, and interacting with one another away from home.

Linda Lindorff, Show presenter comments: “I love Swedish nature, tough competitions and look forward to working with children for the first time in a TV production. At this age, they are often totally fearless and believe nothing is impossible, which will help them in the adventure.”

Fredrik Arefalk, Head of Channels TV4 & C More: “TV4 has a long tradition of gathering the whole family together for our entertainment programmes and our ambition is that even C More will fulfil that function. Therefore, it is great to introduce Wild Kids to our viewers on both C More and TV4. Wild Kids is one of the most popular brands for families with children, so we are very proud and happy that the format is moving in with us.”

Iréne Lindblad CEO at Jarowskij: “Wild Kids has long been a key format on our slate and we’re proud that it is set to continue entertaining families in Sweden. It’s great to be partnering with TV4 and C More, and we look forward to working with Linda on bringing a fresh to feel to the show.”

Mastiff Sweden Crafts Made in Sweden

23rd May 2019 12:00 am Comments Off

Mastiff Sweden, a Banijay Group company, today announces a brand-new design competition for SVT – Made in Sweden. The 6-part series, set to premiere in autumn 2019, will follow amateur craftsmen as they compete to be named the best craftsman in Sweden.

This competitive reality series challenges the amateurs to use a range of materials, including ceramics, paper, leather, forging and wood, to express themselves. The amateurs are then judged by a team headed up by designer, Samir Alj Fält. Made in Sweden will showcase traditional crafts within a modern context, as well as presenting the perfect opportunity for enthusiasts from all over Sweden to demonstrate their creativity.

Pernilla Månsson Colt, Show Presenter comments: “It’s great fun to follow the contestants and their creative ideas. I myself am an amateur but I learn things all the time in this program! It’s great to make a craft program that actually takes the design into the 2020s… finally uniting the nation’s interest in traditional craft with an exciting competition program.”

Johan Liljeroth, Executive Producer, SVT comments: “Made in Sweden finally unites the great interest in traditional craft art with an exciting competition program.”

Matilda Snöwall, CEO, Mastiff Sweden: “It’s great to see Made in Sweden find a home on SVT. Combing traditional arts and crafts with the drama which comes with the competitive reality genre, we hope to build an entertainment brand that resonates with audiences across the nation.”

Made in Sweden was created by Mastiff Denmark and Mastiff Sweden and ran on Denmark’s DR1 in 2015 and 2016. The title is distributed by Banijay Rights.

Tag Archive: sweden