Finland’s Nelonen Media Launches SVOD-Exclusive Comedy

HELSINKI: Ruutu+, a streaming service owned by Finnish media company Nelonen Media, is slated to air all episodes of the scripted series Northern Mishaps next month.

The comedy is written by and stars comedians Tommi Korpela and Janne Reinikainen. Bufo produces the title for Nelonen Media. The series will be available in its entirety on the Ruutu+ SVOD service March 6, and then will air on Nelonen starting March 28.

“Shows made exclusively for online streaming services have proven successful in other countries, but so far in Finland, only short spin-off type series have been produced for online services,” said Jani Hartikainen, Nelonen Media’s senior VP of television. “The Ruutu+ service has shown us here at Nelonen Media that there has been a change in consumers’ viewing habits, which is why we want to serve our customers and provide new ways of watching also Finnish quality shows. We are very pleased that Korpela and Reinikainen, long-time stars who have proven themselves in both drama and comedy, decided to develop this fine series with us.”

Hartikainen continued: “Big television phenomena bring together big audiences, including a large number of people who want to watch television in a new way. We feel that providing diverse content and developing television as a business is the modern way, and we absolutely want to be one of the forerunners in this field.”

“The premieres of Finnish shows have increased Ruutu’s customer base significantly and also held their own against foreign hit shows. Now we are also able to provide our customers with quality content that is made for Ruutu, with all the episodes available at all times,” commented Nelonen Media’s senior VP of consumer sales and products, Lassi Tasajärvi.