BBC Worldwide creates Nordic base

BBC Worldwide is setting up a Nordic-specific production operation based in Denmark and has brought an exec over from Nordisk Film TV to run the division.

The commercial arm of the UK pubcaster will fully own BBC Worldwide Productions Nordics.

The new unit has partnered with Banijay’s Nordisk, which will make any BBCWW formats locally that the new unit gets away.

Former Nordisk and DR exec Anders Fuchs (left) will be head of content and operations. He will shop Worldwide’s 150-strong catalogue of formats into the Nordic territories.

Paul Dempsey (right), president, global markets for Worldwide said: “Audiences in the Nordics love our programming and by teaming up with Nordisk, a company whose heritage, vision and values closely match our own, we’ll be able to bring even more premium content, in the shape of our world class non-scripted formats, to viewers across the region.”

Jacob Houlind, Nordic group CEO of Nordisk added: “We look forward to supporting BBC Worldwide Productions Nordics in making some fantastic new programmes for broadcasters in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.”

Previous BBC Worldwide format sales to the Nordic market include The Great British Bake Off, The Week the Women Went, Honey We’re Killing the Kids and The Weakest Link.

Worldwide has production outposts in France, India and the US, and joint ventures with All3Media in Germany and with FremantleMedia in Australia.