“We Have Too Much Scripted,” Says New Viaplay Boss As He Signals Major Content Pivot

deadline.com:

“We have too much scripted content,” new Viaplay CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann said today as he was pressed by investors on the state of the embattled Nordic outfit’s finances and future sustainability.

A scripted cull is therefore incoming, said Lindemann, with too many shows and movies greenlit over the past couple of years, as Viaplay pivots focus to “local and relevant” unscripted and acquired content.

Included in today’s Q2 update and major strategic announcement was a commitment to “write down underperforming shows and accelerate amortisation of scripted content.” “A lot of the [scripted originals] we have acquired and produced are not paying off,” Lindemann told investors and press during a results call. “It’s not bad content but commercially it’s not right.” Lindemann’s predecessor Anders Jensen, who resigned with immediate effect last month, previously set a target of greenlighting one scripted TV series or movie per week, including high-profile projects such as an adaptation of Camilla Läckberg and Henrik Fexeus’ bestselling crime novels, YA show Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, a feature portrayal of Edvard Munch’s life and Lasse Hallström’s Hilma biopic.

In the UK, Viaplay greenlit a high-profile Rebus reboot that will no longer go ahead. By 2024, Viaplay’s content breakdown is targeted to be around three-quarters acquired shows, 16% scripted and 12% scripted.