SVT enters The Tunnel

Swedish pubcaster SVT has acquired the Anglo-French remake of one of its own dramas, The Bridge (Bron).

The Tunnel will debut on SVT’s free VOD service, SVT Flow, on Friday (May 9), after acquisition unit SVT International acquired the show from distributor Shine International.

SVT Flow launched on April 23. The web TV service allows Swedish viewers to watch linear services from the broadcaster online as well as catch-up with its shows on-demand.

The deal represents the first time SVT has acquired a remake of one of its own series.

The Tunnel first ran on Canal+ in France and Sky Atlantic in the UK, produced by Shine International stablemate Kudos Film & Television. It was created as a remake of SVT and DR’s Swedish-Danish crime drama The Bridge, which is among the series credited with creating the ‘Nordic noir’ drama crazed around the world.

“We have followed The Tunnel with great interest since we first heard about this remake, and it seems like SVT is the natural home for such a fantastic series,” said Stephen Mowbray, head of SVT International.

“It is a quality drama with an outstanding cast, and although many Swedes are familiar with the original series I think The Tunnel completely stands on its own two feet.”