FormatBiz | NENT Group and Elisa to launch combined streaming service Elisa Viihde Viaplay in December

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), the Nordic region's leading streaming company, and Elisa, Finland's market-leading telecoms operator, will launch their combined streaming service Elisa Viihde Viaplay in Finland on 3 December. Elisa Viihde Viaplay will bring together Viaplay's original Nordic productions, Hollywood films and series, and high-quality kids content with Elisa Viihde Aitio's original series and wide selection of Finnish films.

Elisa Viihde Viaplay will be priced at EUR 12.99 per month and will include all content currently available through Viaplay's Finnish `Films & Series' package and Elisa's streaming service Elisa Viihde Aitio. Customers of Viaplay's `Films & Series' package or Elisa Viihde Aitio have had access to both services since 30 June.

NENT Group will be responsible for Elisa Viihde Viaplay's technology and analytics, while Elisa will handle sales, marketing and customer support. Both parties will continue to invest in content for the service.

Alongside the combined service, an Elisa Viihde Viaplay `Total' package priced at EUR 34.99 per month will offer Viaplay's premium sports content such as Premier League, Bundesliga, NHL and KHL. NENT Group holds full ownership of all Viaplay sports content and remains responsible for all related sports marketing and production activities in Finland.

Kim Poder, NENT Group Chief Commercial Officer: "This partnership is all about taking streaming in Finland to the next level. We see considerable growth potential in Finland and will continue investing in content for the Finnish market. Bringing Elisa Viihde Viaplay to Finnish viewers together with Elisa will help us realise our ambitions even faster."

Ani Korpela, Content Director, Elisa Viihde: "Our original series are hugely popular and thanks to Elisa Viihde Viaplay they will be finding new audiences. We will continue to focus strongly on quality domestic drama and comedy as well as Finnish movies. Moreover, it is great soon to be able to offer our customers Viaplay's leading Nordic drama content, international movies and series, and kids content."

NENT Group released its first Finnish original, Cold Courage, in May 2020 and is set to premiere at least 40 Nordic and international original productions during 2021. The company offers a wide selection of international films, series and kids content through long-term relationships with major Hollywood, independent and in-house studios.

Elisa is one of the largest producers of Finnish drama with 20 original series premiered to date. Hit titles include the internationally distributed and award-winning original series Arctic Circle, All the Sins, Shadow Lines and Bullets.