TTV SPECIAL - FINLAND

ttv ©2012

PRESIDENT/CEO Sebastian Lateulade - slateulade@todotv.tv EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Soledad Saldías - ssaldias@todotv.tv PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Sebastián Amoroso- samoroso@todotv.tv EDITOR IN CHIEF Rodrigo Ros - rros@todotv.tv SENIOR EDITORS Sebastián Torterola - storterola@todotv.tv Josefina Mezzera Regules - jmezzera@todotv.tv EDITORS Gonzalo Larrea - glarrea@todotv.tv Carolina Mussio - cmussio@todotv.tv

Contents

WRITER Valentina Vinaja - vvinaja@todotv.tv SALES AND PRODUCTION MANAGER Darío Alemán - daleman@todotv.tv

Special Report

04

INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER Monica Iriarte - miriarte@todotv.tv HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Alejandro Sánchez - asanchez@todotv.tv IT MANAGER Alejandro Barros - abarros@todotv.tv IT ASSISTANT Fabián González - fgonzález@todotv.tv DATA OPERATIONS Fernando Moreno - fmoreno@todotv.tv WEBMASTER Nazario Pereira - n.pereira@todotv.tv FINANCE MANAGER Cr. Michel Schwartz - mschwartz@todotv.tv ADMINISTRATION Ana Paula Carreira - acarreira@todotv.tv Valeria Morena - morena@todotv.tv

FINLAND

Land of Opportunity Executives

into Finland 07 APetraGateway Theman, CEO of Finnish Film

Animated Evolution 12 Finland’s Liisa Vähäkylä, Managing

Formats 08 Award-Winning Antti Seppänen,

Finnish Differential 13 The Roope Lehtinen,

Unite 09 Finland Tuija Snellman, Head of Sales

World in 3D 14 The Tomi Luostarinen,

Walt Disney 11 ANickModern-Day Dorra, Head of Animation

Matter of Strategy 15 AMikko Silvennoinen, Director of Broadcast

& Audiovisual Export

CEO of Intervisio

at YLE Finnish Broadcasting Company

Rovio Enterteinment

Director of Finnanimation

CEO of Moskito TV

CEO of Stereoscape

at FOX International Channels Finland

ART AND DESIGN UNIK Media Solutions - info@unikbureau.com www.unikbureau.com

ttv preview is a monthly publication owned by TodotvMedia. Its distribution is free of charge. The articles reflect the opinions of the individual authors on the topics covered, without implying editorial control or endorsement of the content by the management and ownership of the magazine. For all purposes, the advertisements and their content are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Reproduction in whole or in part, in electronic or print form, of the content of this publication, without express written permission of TodotvMedia is strictly prohibited.

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Finland | News DISTRIBUTION

A new Mipcom for Nordic World FUTURECODE

The Dibidogs Expand International Footprint

Through its star product, ‘The Dibidogs’, Futurecode continues to travel around the world. Recently, the company closed a deal with Russian broadcaster Multimania, which is the latest addition to a slate of sales to China Central TV (CCTV China) and KBC Kids in Korea. The animated series’ first season includes 26 23-minute episodes and the complete project is four seasons long, with 104 episodes overall. Futurecode was chosen as the most innovative company at MIPTV 2011 due to ‘The Dibidogs’ and its augmented reality project, which allows kids to interact with a book or magazine and bring the characters to life. “With augmented reality, the print and digital industries are becoming one, for the first time in history.

This makes the format extremely attractive to big media companies with both TV and print operations,” the company stated. ‘The Dibidogs’ is a 3D animated series for kids between 4-10 years about a group of puppies living in a planet known as Bonecity.

This year, Nordic World is arriving at Mipcom to showcase the region’s best formats and finished programs.

“Our best markets are definitely Miptv and Mipcom.

Is where we create all the leads that we exploit and capitalize on in between the Mips and is definitely a good business,” said Jan Salling, COO & sales director at Nordic World, a company which manages the rights of major broadcasters in the Nordic region, such as TV2 of Denmark, TV4 of Sweden, NRK and TV2 of Norway, MTV3 and YLE of Finland and K2 of Estonia.” We want the Nordic TV market to be the most creative and successful TV market in the world and we will promote the companies behind, their products and their successes worldwide. If a format makes it here it can make it anywhere,” is the company’s motto, which features a vast content catalog of quality programs ranging from drama series, factual content and kids programming.

AWARD

‘Rockstar Home Invasion’ Wins Top Honor in Finland

Hit TV series ‘Rockstar Home Invasion’ (original name ‘Duudsonit tuli taloon’) received the Finland-Format award (given to the best TV format in the country) and a check for 20,000 euros, at the Media & Message Seminar, which took place on August 8-9 in Naantali, Finland. The Seminar, which awards the best in the entertainment and media business, is organized by the Finnish Audiovisual Producers Association (SATU) and financed by Yleisradio, MTV Media and Nelonen Media. The series ‘Rockstar Home Invasion’ was developed by Finnish production company Rabbit Films, and it’s distributed by Nordic World. The show looked for over 300 families with small kids, 8 of which were ultimately chosen.

PRODUCTION

An Ideal Location The Dudesons -the format’s stars- then moved in for 2 days with the families to provide their unique services and help them with their everyday problems.

The format was very successful among viewers, registering a 200% growth in ratings and becoming its network’s number one show throughout the season with over 2,2 million viewers. It has been commissioned for a second season for which there are already 1,500 families applying to participate.

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A highly educated population, four distinct seasons and impressive landscapes make Finland a more than appealing set for foreign production companies to shoot audiovisual contents in. As a way to make the process easier for producers and directors, the country has created the Finland Film Comission: a non-profit organization destined to providing information and assistance for companies seeking to shoot movies, series, advertising and any type of content in the Nordic country. ”The Finland Film Commission offers information of shooting locations, shooting permits, and all the different kind of services related to filming,” said Päivi Söderström, who highlighted the numerous benefits Finland has to offer. “We have a lot of very beautiful places, like forest, lakes, hills and an amazing archipelago. We also can guarantee snow in winter and long nights, as well as a lot of light and long days in summer. The Finnish crew is set to be more efficient, which can keep the expenses down since you would need less shooting days than other countries,” she said.

Finland | Report

Finland: Land Strengthened by an increase in the number of TV channels and its content’s growing popularity, the Nordic COUNTRY’S audiovisual industry is blooming, generating business opportunities for producers, and developing new, innovative products for both the local and international markets. This unique country offers copious BENEFITS AS AN AUDIOVISUAL DESTINATION FOR foreign companies from all over the world.

By Gonzalo Larrea Twitter: @Gonzalolarrea glarrea@todotv.tv

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ith a growing audiovisual industry, a strong local market and a notably expanding presence across the globe; Finland is surely becoming a land of opportunity, with room for acquisitions, sales and production. The Scandinavian country is wit-

nessing an outstanding development of its films and TV products; and as it seeks to become an internationally renowned market, it’s also investing time and efforts to be a production hub for foreign companies.

THE EXPLOSION. Despite traditionally being a print oriented country with a strong press and only one TV channel until 1986 (YLE); the Finnish media landscape has recently undertaken a complete transformation, fostered mainly by TV’s digitalization.

Nowadays, Finland is among a handful of countries where the analog switch-off has been completed (done in 2008), which multiplied the number of TV channels available exponentially, increasing the media outlet’s presence and the amount of original productions. The region currently has over 12 broadcast TV networks available, which are all very successful, especially considering pay TV’s low penetration (35%).

FINLAND BASICS “The most important thing about the Finnish TV business during the last couple of years has been the digitalization and the number of channels getting bigger and bigger. We now have 12 or 13 free-to-air terrestrial channels in Finland. That’s a lot for a country of five million people. As the number of channels has increased, the opportunity for independent producers has increased as well,” said Antti Seppänen, CEO of local company Intervisio, who highlighted how important local, original content is for these channels.

“Local production is really important for the Finnish TV channels. Of course international products perform well, but having strong Finnish content is very important. This means that there’s a market for good local drama, entertainment and formats. Increasingly, the Finnish TV channels see that it is important to have original Finnish formats as well as the international adaptations. If you are innovative in the ways you finance your production, there’s lots of work now to do,” he added.

According to Roope Lehtinen, CEO of Moskito TV, another key element to consider is the Finnish audiovisual industry’s new found place in the international scene, as well as the excellent health shown by the local commercial market.

“The key aspect in the TV business in Finland is that it has become part of the big international

growth. “The most promising products are formats. The Finnish way of making programs, with relatively small budgets, good quality, innovation and creativity is something that has its appeal outside of Finland,” he explained.

Location Northern Europe, between Sweden and Russia Capital City Helsinki Population 5.3 million Language Finnish, Swedish. English is also widely spoken.

Politics Republic, parliamentary democracy.

Member of the EU. Currency Euro Time Zone GMT +2 across the globe, with sales mainly led by animated content that continues to grow on a yearly basis, as noted by Liisa Vähäkylä, managing director of Finnanimation.

“All in all, the Nordic market has been quite interesting, even sexy in the last few years.

There have been a few international formats done by the Nordic players. Content-wise I think we have a different mentality from other European countries. That gives us a kind of special edge to our programming,” said Roope Lehtinen, who also noted the recent interest sparked by Nordic drama over the last few years.

“The Swedish drama, especially ‘Wallander’ and the films based on Stieg Larsson’s novels, has drawn a lot of attention to the Nordic market and Finland is getting a bit of that attention. I’m pretty sure that this interest for the whole Nordic drama is going to be bigger in the future,” he added.

OUTSTANDING LOCATION. In addition to the development of local productions in Finland, the market is also seeking to become an ideal place for international producers to shoot content in, encouraging the arrival of foreign companies from all over the globe with its natural landscapes and highly-trained professionals.

of Opportunity “The most important markets are the Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Germany is also important, as well as some of the eastern European countries, especially the Balkan region. Asia is getting bigger, led by Japan, where there are many Finnish fans,” she said.

Finland’s TV market accounts for 20.3% of the country’s ad sales, which represents 1.03 billion euros. “This is quite small if you compare with the rest of the world. But it’s still growing,” Lehtinen said.

In addition to animation, the country is starting to get recognized for its entertainment formats and reality shows; genres which are growing in popularity among local audiences with great potential for international distribution.

BEYOND ANGRY BIRDS. Unquestionably, if there’s one Finnish product still making waves overseas is the hit online game Angry Birds, which has already been downladed over 1 billion times all over the world, with an animated TV series and a feature film in the horizon.

“The Finnish productions are the highest rated genre in Finland. Because of the limited budgets, there are more reality shows and factual entertainment formats than drama, fiction and live entertainment shows,” said SATU’s Stiina Laasko.

Yet, the Scandinavian country has numerous other successful products present

In this scenario, Antti Seppänen believes it’s formats which have the largest potential for

There’s one thing everyone can agree on, and that’s the market’s ability to work with limited budgets. “Finnish production companies and crews have very high production standards, are effective and trustworthy. Finland is technically very developed, having high speed internet in almost every home. Its nature offers various locations and the content is always original,” said Stiina Laasko.

“Finland is a haven for audiovisual productions: incredibly talented people with superb English skills, and flexible and economical ways of working; completely unique light in summer time, absolutely 100% sure snow conditions in winter and people who know how to work in those conditions. We also have unbelievably good infrastructures right in the heart of very exotic locations and very low bureaucracy, non-existent corruption and super safe environments. Multitasking is much more familiar to us than many other countries,” said Petra Theman, CEO of the Fin-

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family. We share much of the same formats and we are active players in the formats market. Also, for the last couple of years, as in all Nordic countries, commercial broadcasters have been very healthy as well as the commercial market, which has been driving the production market. Business has been good in Finland,” he explained.

Finland | Report nish Film & Audiovisual Export (FAVEX), who believes these benefits are essential to reduce production costs.

there’s a lot of light also in the northern parts of Finland,” she said and highlighted the benefits provided by the region’s natural lighting.

As one of the main drivers of local productions stands the Finland Film Commission, a nonprofit organization destined to provide information and assistance to foreign companies interested in developing projects in Finland.

“Lighting conditions are quite exceptional. In winter in the north the sun doesn’t rise at all giving a blue and very beautiful light, while in summer the sun doesn’t set at all, which provides longer days for shooting,” she added.

MEDIA FIGURES 20,3% Share

of Advertising on TV

35% Pay TV Penetration The 5 biggest channels as for

market share: YLE 1 - 23.3 % MTV3 - 21.8% YLE2 - 16.9% Nelonen - 9.2% SUB - 6.1%

“Finland is haven for audiovisual productions: incredibly talented people with superb English skills, and flexible and economical ways of working.”

“The most important thing about the Finnish TV business during the last couple of years has been the digitalization and the number of channels getting bigger and bigger.”

“In general, the Nordic market has gotten quite interesting, even sexy in the last few years.”

Petra Theman, CEO, FAVEX

Antti Seppänen, CEO, Intervisio

Roope Lehtinen, CEO, Moskito TV.

Paivi Soderstrom from the organization also praised the country’s sceneries: “We have a lot of very beautiful natural places, four distinctive seasons with warm summers and cold winters.

In the winter time, we have a lot of snow up north, so we can almost guarantee that you will find a snow location, whereas in springtime

Lastly, in regard to production costs, Soderstrom explained Finnish crews are capable of creating exceptional products with low budgets, in short amounts of time.

typically able to multitask, so you actually might need less people than elsewhere. We are able to shoot longer days and all the Finnish crew is set to be more efficient, we can keep the expenses down. You would need less shooting days than other countries. That’s one of the main benefits of coming here,” she concluded. ttv

“Finland has about the same level of expenses as other European countries, but Finnish crews are

Finland Executives

A Gateway into Finland Created in 2008, the Finnish Film & Audiovisual Export (FAVEX) is an association that promotes audiovisual content sales and distribution in Finland. Its director, Petra Theman spoke to ttv about the organization’s goals, and shared her outlook on the current state of Finland’s audiovisual market and its ongoing growth.

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The executive also praised the Finnish busiith the goal to promote the ness model, which allows companies to not highest quality, increase inonly produce high quality products, but also vestments and sales, and to establish the country as an excellent provishowcase the benefits of the der of audiovisual services.

Finnish audiovisual industry to the international market; the Finnish Film “We have the ability to work with limited & Audiovisual Export (FAVEX) is, unquestiobudgets and super demanding aunably, a gateway into Finland: a coundiences, high levels of education and try where the film, TV and videoga“It seems equality between genders, closeme industries are all experiencing that Finnish ness to nature, incredibly talented an outstanding development. content works people with superb English skills amazingly well in all cultural and flexible and economical ways of In just two years, the audiovisual areas.” working. Nowadays, our service saindustry quadrupled its exports’ les income comes mainly from angloincome from 12 million Euros in American countries and of course neigh2009 to 44 million in 2011; and boring countries like Russia and Scandinavia,” the expectations for the present year are just she said. as optimistic. The turnaround of the Finnish independent audiovisual production comThe executive also noted the main income panies is estimated to be around 240 million from abroad is pre-sales of feature films, while euros.

TV accounts for about 35% of it.

According to FAVEX director, Petra Theman, “The merchandising income is quite signithe reasons behind this phenomenon are seficant on the TV side, and the rest is divided veral; although Finnish content’s international appeal might be the main one.

Petra Theman,

CEO of Finnish Film & Audiovisual Export Honored by Mipcom The organization announced Petra Theman will be included in this year’s ‘Women in Global Entertainment Power Lunch’, which will bring together 100 of the most influential women executives from the international TV and entertainment business. The new senior-level networking event, organized in partnership with Lifetime Networks, will take place on Monday, October 8 at the Carlton Hotel. Theman is not only one of the women chosen to participate; she’ll also be the only Nordic woman on the list. fairly evenly between TV programs, documentaries, drama, remake sales, children’s content and TV formats. What I do love is the trend that there are every year more and more companies earning over 100,000 euros from abroad, meaning that the top is getting wider and wider and is not in the hands of just a few companies”, she concluded. ttv

“Our creative documentaries have always had a good market in other European countries and shows such as ‘The Dudesons’ and ‘Madventures’ really work all over the globe, when they find the right TV channel aiming at the right audience for them,” she added.

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“It seems that Finnish content works amazingly well in all cultural areas, since the variety of good quality content is so large.

Some of our animations have worked really well in, for example, China and Indonesia, and the crazier content for some reason in Latin America and the US,” Theman explained.

FAVEX is present

in the year’s main international markets and tradeshows to showcase the best in Finnish production.

Finland Executives

Award-Winning Formats

Responsible for creating the most successful format in the history of Finland -which led it to win an Emmy Award- Intervisio stands out as one of the country’s most innovative companies as far as formats and multiplatform content goes. Its CEO spoke to ttv about the producer’s newest projects and the current state of Finland’s audiovisual industry.

Antti Seppänen, CEO of Intervisio

and it’s the most successful Finnish TV format,” Intervisio’s CEO, Antti Seppänen, said to ttv.

According to the executive, the combination of videogames with TV entertainment is “one of the most interesting areas of growth across the world nowadays,” on par with multiplatform products and branded content. Originally created as cross-media company, Intervisio now has a privileged place in the international market.

“We started out as a cross-media company, so we have always had a strong focus on multiplatform ideas; ideas that can combine mobile, web, TV and games. I think there is a big market for formats that can combine videogames with TV entertainment,” he said.

STARAOKE

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Game Show

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including the UK, France, Italy, Germany and reated over 12 years ago as a crossPoland. media company, Intervisio is now one of Finland’s most suc“So far, our most successful format has cessful companies, with been ‘Staraoke’, which has been on entertainment and li“I think air in nine territories internatiofestyle programming, and hit forthere is a big nally and it even won an Emmy mats that travel across borders. market for formats that Award. The program combines a can combine videogame with a kids TV show.

In fact, they are the creators bevideogames In the videogame you control a hind the international hit show with TV character in the screen with the ‘Staraoke’, which is not only entertainment”. pitch of your voice. So you sing and their most successful product the character moves according to so far, but also the most suchow good you sing. It’s a very simple idea cessful format in the history of but it’s really something kids love. We have Finland: it’s been on the air for over 10 years been producing it in Finland for over ten years and is currently present in nine countries,

“We have also started a new subsidiary that focuses on branded content. We believe that there’s going to be big growth in that area in the near future. On the same time we are concentrating in producing multiplatform content,” he added.

The executive highlighted one of its most recent projects: ‘The Wall’. “We are just starting the production of this new game where we combine a huge touchscreen wall in the TV studio and the contestants play games in there. We are really excited. It’s something unique and it has options in eight countries,” he said.

Intervisio currently produces between 10 and 15 series a year, taking full advantage of Finland’s growing audiovisual industry. “As the number of channels has increased, the opportunities for independent producers have increased as well. If you are innovative in the ways you finance your production, then there’s plenty of work to do now,” he concluded. ttv

Finland Executives

Finland Unite

Founded in 1926, Finnish national public service broadcasting company Yle is currently one of the most popular TV networks in Finland, as well as one of the leading content producers, responsible for developing 70% of all local TV programs.

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mainly from European countries. Last year ith four national television alone, it purchased programmes in over 70 channels, one simulcast HD countries; 85% of which were Euronetwork, and six radio pean. channels and servi“Our aim ces, complimented is to be an At the forefront of new technoby 25 regional radio programmes; influential logies, the broadcaster’s website Yle, Finland’s national public sercontent producer in Finnish civil -Yle Areena- is one of the most vice broadcasting company, is society and valuable online brands in Finland, without a doubt a referent among culture”. registering more than 800,000 uniFinnish broadcasters. que visitors a week and more than 10 million hits to its play button each The company not only manages some of the country’s most popular networks, with a combined 44% market share among all of its channels; it’s also among the largest local content producers in Finland. Currently, 70% of Finnish TV programs are produced by the broadcaster.

Tuija Snellman,

Head of Sales at YLE Finnish Broadcasting Company month. Yle is also a major content developer for new platforms and media, with a special focus on HD technologies. ttv

ICEBREAKERS Reality Series

“Yle aims to be the leading producer of factual and cultural content, Finnish music programmes, children’s services, drama, news, current affairs programmes and regional services. In addition, the channel covers all major sporting events and a diversity of other sports,” Tuija Snellman, Yle’s Head of Sales, explained to ttv.

“Our aim is to be an influential content producer, playing a part in Finnish civil society and culture. Yle serves its customers in both traditional and new ways of using media, considering all significant user groups and changes in consumption habits equally. This requires a unique combination of traditional services and new social media,” the executive added.

In addition, the company also acquires a substantial amount of content overseas,

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Finnish content constitutes 88% of Yle’s current investments in programming. Meanwhile, the broadcaster also fosters Finnish media culture by purchasing 20% of its domestic television content from independent production companies and investing approximately 50 million euros a year in promoting Finland’s production industry.

Finland | News TRADESHOW

Media & Message:

Uniting the Industry

Organized by SATU (Association of Independent Producers in Finland) since 1994, the Media & Message is one of the main events in Finland’s audiovisual industry, gathering its main companies and over 200 executives. “It’s really the one and only event that joins the whole industry together and in a relaxed atmosphere. All major independent TV production companies come every year, as well as more than 200 key players from the field,” said Stiina Laasko from SATU. Apart from the seminars and dinners, this year the event granted a €20.000 prize to the best original Finnish format. While the Media & Message is marketed nationally, its

last edition had representatives from its neighbor country Estonia. The list of participants included all major TV-channels such as YLE, MTV Media, Nelonen Media and FOX, as well as the main independent TV-production companies

like Fremantle Media, Yellow Film & TV, Metronome Film & Television, Nordisk Television, Moskito Television, Solar Television, Aitomedia and Rabbit Films. The 20th edition of this annual event took place on August 8-9, 2012.

SCANDINAVIA

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Streaming on the Rise Following international launches made in Latin America (September 2011) and Europe in the UK and Ireland (January 2012), Netflix has confirmed it will enter the Scandinavian market by the end of 2012, covering Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Though not surprising, the announcement brings its share of challenges. Even though Scandinavian users are naturally early-adopters and leaders in innovation of media consumption habits, the company will probably start far from subscribers’ top of mind. Local VOD service Voddler, as well as international companies such as Amazon’s Lovefilm and MUBI, are set to be fierce competitors for the new player. On top of that, mere few hours after Netflix’s announcement, HBO has entered the picture with heavy weapons and a surprising new plan of its own: to launch HBO Nordic AB; a Standalone VOD Service which will not require a pay TV subscription. The service was set to debut in October and will cost 10 euros a month. In addition to HBO content -premiered one day after it’s broadcast on TV in the US-, the service will include programming from Showtime and Starz. HBO Nordic AB stands to become a major competitor for Netflix, which also announced the expansion of its service in the region. Faced with the arrival of the two giants, other Nordic pay TV platforms are preparing for the fierce competition ahead. Media companies such as TV4 Group, C More and Bonnier are planning to revive the Filmnet brand for an online movie and TV portal.

PRODUCTION

Rinki: Multiplatform Content

Founded in 2004, Rinki is a digital content producer based in Finland, specialized in bringing narratives to life with the use of 3D graphics, film footage, visual effects and character animation, producing all types of TV, print and internet content, as well as feature films. The company is responsible for hit TV series such as ‘The Veges’ and particularly ‘The Gnome’, its flagship brand which has generated several other projects including short films, television series, a feature film and even a theme park. Rinki also specializes in multiplatform content, e-books and merchandising. In addition, the digital producer is also interested in collaborating with other companies, organizations and individuals such as broadcasters, distributors, sales agents, co-producers, licensees, sponsors and investors. Its founder and majority shareholder is CEO Kari Piirainen, who has been working in the field of digital production for almost 20 years.

Watch video interview

Finland Executives

A Modern-Day Walt Disney Born as a game just three years ago, Angry Birds is now an international phenomenon. In Finland, ttv cought up with Nick Dorra, head of animation at Rovio Entertainment, who shared the story behind the company’s success

Nick Dorra,

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reated in Finland in 2003 by four main trends in videogames, they decided to college students, not even the develop a game focusing on its design most optimistic person could and its characters. 51 games later, foresee Rovio’s evolution ‘Angry Birds’ was born.

“The process over the last nine years; through which a time in which it went from being “The process through which AnAngry Birds got to this place was almost bankrupt to taking the world gry Birds got to this place was really step by by storm with ‘Angry Birds’. really step by step. Once it got to step.” the App Store in the UK, it led to Today, the game is famous in all over the App Store in the US, and then it the world. It’s enough to walk down became the worldwide phenomenon the streets in Finland to get a sense of just it is today,” he said. By spring 2012, the game how major the phenomenon is. Billboards, had already been downloaded over one biads on the side of buses, action figures at trallion times. in stations, posters all over the place. They’re everywhere and then some. There’s also toys, Now, three years after the birth of Angry Birds, stuffed animals, drinks and even theme parks. the company is seeking to make the move It’s hard to believe only three years ago, Angry onto new fields. Thus, it recently changed its Birds didn’t even exist. name from Rovio Mobile to Rovio Entertainment, to show its ambition for exploring new However, it wasn’t all fun and games at the business opportunities.

Finnish company, which ensures the project was not an overnight success and is getting There’s no doubt about it. The phenomenon is ready to take its next big step: becoming a far from wearing out. The company wants to complete entertainment company; first with continue to grow and more than a few voices an animated series and then a feature film. are describing it as the Walt Disney of the XXI century. The comparison might seem bold, As the leader of this transition stands Nick Dorra, head of animation at Rovio, who spoke to ttv at the company’s headquarters in Finland about its transition from a small company to an international phenomenon.

Interestingly enough, that desperate situation was the main reason behind the company’s success, as it made its owners devise a whole new strategy. After thorough analysis of the BIRDS SPACE ANGRY App

Finland: the land of videogames The global phenomenon that is Angry Birds and the success of a company such as Rovio is far from being uncommon in Finland; a country that has produced several highquality projects in the last few years -such as Max Payne, Alan Wake or Shadow Cities-, with a thriving videogame industry backed by the government. “I believe the videogame industry as a whole in Finland is not huge compared to other markets, yet the tittles that have come out of Finland are of very high quality. There is a strong background in computer programming and in games development in the country; and I see Rovio as a part of this whole family of game developers from Finland,” Nick Dorra said. but it shows the company’s evident evolution and its intentions for the future. ttv

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“Rovio was founded back in 2003, when its four owners won a contest as game developers and decided to make that their job. The company then went through ups and downs for a couple of years, and was on the verge of bankruptcy,” said Dorra.

Head of Animation Rovio Enterteinment

Finland Executives

Watch video interview

Finland’s Animated Evolution As the leader of an organization of 40 independent Finnish production companies, with the clear goal to expand the local animation’s international footprint; Liisa Vähäkylä spoke to ttv and described the main reasons why Finland stands to become a key player in the international animation industry.

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in the global market; especially when it coreated back in 2005 as a non-profit mes to one specific genre: “Animation is abassociation of Finnish animation solutely the most internationally disproducers and supported tributed Finnish content,” she said by the country’s Minis“Animation during her interview with ttv in try of Education and travels very well Finland, as she explained why Culture, Finnanimation is devobecause you don’t this type of content is so poputed to organizing promotional have actors; it’s not lar overseas. “This genre travels and cultural export activities so locally-based, very well because you don’t across the globe, taking part so you can easily adapt it to different have actors; it’s not so locallyin tradeshows and markets to cultures.” based, so you can easily adapt it give Finnish animation an imto different cultures,” she added. perative role in the international arena.

CO-PRODUCTION IS KEY. As another gateway for Finnish animation to bolster inThe organization’s managing director Liisa ternational deals, the executive emphasized Vähäkylä believes Finland’s content industry the importance of co-production, describing certainly has what it takes to make its mark

& THE WAY TO THE STARS NIKO Animated Film

Liisa Vähäkylä, Managing Director of Finnanimation

it as “a necessity” in animation. “To be able to finance your animation, whether it’s a TV series or feature film, you need co-production partners; so financing comes from all co-producing partners,” she said, and added: “Finland has so far done this very well. We are sought after partners for co-productions in Europe and Asia.”

While co-production and distribution have both made Finnish animation present all over the globe, the executive explained it’s currently largely popular in neighboring countries such as Sweden, Norway and Denmark, which share the same cultural background; and highlighted the success of the ‘Angry Birds’, the Finnish production that became a true international phenomenon.

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MOBILE FUTURE. This production’s success came about on par with the increasing popularity of new technologies and mobile devices in Finland. “Finnish people have always been early adapters of mobile phones, the internet and new devices such as iPads and iPhones,” she said, highlighting the way audiences embraced new platforms as a key role in the series’ growth.

“It was very important for the breakthrough of ‘Angry Birds’ that it happened at the same time that iPads and iPhones exploded in Finland,” Vähäkylä stated and explained how, as the use of these mobile devices is mainly content-oriented, it might provide new opportunities for the animation industry: “ebooks and the entire publishing industry will change. Animation provides added value to any book, so that’s a growing market we are certainly looking after,” she concluded. ttv

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Finland Executives

The Finnish Differential Roope Lehtinen, CEO at Moskito TV, spoke about the country’s latest trends and Finnish TV’s new-found role in the international and regional entertainment industries, stating that “the interest for Nordic and Finnish drama will be greater in the future.”

Roope Lehtinen, CEO of Moskito TV

IHOLLA Series

works: “I’m sure the interest for Nordic and Finnish drama will be even greater in the future,” he said.

As far as the Finnish TV industry goes, the executive believes it has become a key part of the international market: “We share much of the same formats and are active players in the worldwide format market. We also have the same traditions as the European public and commercial TV.” REGIONAL IDENTITY. On a regional level, Lehtinen stated pan-Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark) share their cultural background, as well as the “small-nation” mentality; “we all have our own language and we all have small populations, and we also have a strong local identity which translates to international trends and formats around the world.”

Lastly, the executive acknowledged the region is slightly behind as far as online commercial models goes, making it a small disadvantage when competing against other countries such as the US. Yet, he believes despite the new technologies and platforms making their way to the market; at the end of the day it’s still all about having high-quality products: “I think the world is getting very small in that sense: if you get a good idea, good content; then that’s what really matters,” he concluded. ttv

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As part of ttv’s tour across Finland, Roope oskito TV is a Finnish company Lehtinen, CEO at Moskito TV, spoke about that produces content in all the country’s trends and the most genres: drama, enterpopular genres in the Nordic retainment, factual pro“I’m sure the gion. In addition, he shared his gramming, sports interest for outlook on Finnish TV’s role in and TV commercials. The proNordic and the international entertainment duction company is part of Nice Finnish drama industry.

Entertainment, which also incluwill be even des Titan & Baluba from Sweden, greater in the future.”

TRENDS. As CEO of one of the Monster from Norway and Gong largest audiovisual companies in from Denmark. the country, Lehtinen believes entertainment formats are prominent in the In 2011, Nice’s companies produced close to Nordic region, especially Sweden programs 100 hours of TV content, including primetime and realities. In addition, he also stated lodrama series, comedies, lifestyle, sports, mocal drama is also very popular in Nordic netvies and commercials.

In addition, the executive stated Finnish production companies have grown significantly over the past few years, making the most of the resources and technologies available in the country. In this sense, he praised the region’s production standards, which he believes “are very high compared to the budgets.”

Finland Executives

The World in 3D Stereoscape is at the forefront of the audiovisual industry, providing a “holistic 3D service” complete with devices, content and installation. Its CEO spoke to ttv about the technology’s benefits, and explained how his company works with clients all over the globe.

Tomi Luostarinen, CEO of Stereoscape

rapidly expanded its services’ reach by adding new clients from TV and advertising. In this regard, Luostarinen highlighted the latest 3D trend: holograms. “We are very excited to be in this field of experimental marketing; it’s a great opportunity for us,” he said. For instance, the company recently made a large installation in Dubai using holograms. “We are excited since 3D is reaching new platforms,” he said.

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TRENDSETTER. The executive is aware of how fast times are changing, and that it’s necessary to stay on top of the latest innovations in order to keep up with this evolution. “By 2015, 3D mobile devices and tablets will be everywhere. There’s a transition taking place and not many people realize it,” he said. Stereoscope is devoting its time and efforts to detect which new trends will appear in the stereoscopic world. “We constantly monitor what kind of new technologies are out there, and create innovative services that are userfriendly for our clients,” he said.

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One of Stereoscape’s biggest accomplishrom its headquarters in Helsinki ments in the 3D world was ‘Moomins and the (Finland), its offices in London (UK), Comet Chase’: the first feature film to be Stockholm and Gothenburg produced in 3D in Scandinavia. The (Sweden), and its repre“By 2015, original 2D footage was filmed in sentatives in Saint Pe3D mobile devices 1977-1982, and was converted to tersburg (Russia); Stereoscape’s and tablets will stereoscopic 3D. “It was a tremenbusiness spreads worldwide. be everywhere. dous project; groundbreaking “We operate globally. We get There’s a transition since we had to transform the old requests from Europe, Latin taking place and not many people footage into digital format, while America and Asia, for instance. realize it.” making it comfortable for children We see great potential in thoand appealing for adult audiences as se territories and would like to well,” Luostarinen said. expand our service through collaboration with local partners,” The company, which was originally created said Tomi Luostarinen, CEO of the 3D soluback in 2006 to work in the 3D film industry, tions company.

The company seeks to provide a “holistic service” for its clients, complete with devices, content, installation. As the executive explained: “That way, they can concentrate on doing what they do best; and we’ll handle the 3D part.”

FINNISH RESOURCES. According to the executive, if there’s one thing that makes Scandinavia stand out from other regions, is its highly-skilled professionals. “Finland has a lot to offer the world,” said Luostarinen. And Stereoscape is certainly no exception: “Our employees have a great mix of technical, corporate and creative training; which allows us to manage complex projects all over the world.

That’s our biggest asset,” he concluded. ttv

Finland Executives

A Matter of Strategy In April 2012, Fox International Channels (FIC) launched Fox Finland, the company’s only terrestrial free-to-air channel in Europe. Mikko Silvennoinen, the network’s director of Broadcast, explains the reasons behind this decision and the results accomplished thus far.

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Mikko Silvennoinen, Director of Broadcast at FOX International Channels Finland

SBS and FOX have only arrived in Finland in o Fox International Channels (FIC), the past few years, and this will shake up the Finland is a unique case study in its market and create further opportunity worldwide business: half a year for good ideas. The success of our ago, the company owned “To date, launch has proven that Finns are

by Rupert Murdoch’s News FIC has primarily fast adaptors.

Corp. acquired national free-to-air focused on pay TV, but first and channel Suomi TV, which turned foremost we are What results has the channel obinto its first step into broadcast an entertainment tained so far? We are very pleased TV, under the FOX brand. The new content by the warm welcome we’ve receichannel’s director, Mikko Silvencompany.” ved from Finnish viewers and advertinoinen, explained the details of sers. Competition and choice are always this operation, which requires to healthy and stimulate the market. Viewers produce Finnish-language contents. found us, and the ratings have been very positive. Advertisers seem to understand the FOX What were the reasons behind FIC’s debrand -it’s new, fresh and stands for quality- and cision to launch the channel in Finland? they’ve also noticed its high ratings.

Acquiring SuomiTV was a unique opportunity to increase our presence in Finland and Could you tell us about the programming in the Nordic market. FOX is FIC’s flagship grid and what it consists of? Our programbrand. Now, under the FOX brand we not only ming follows the same philosophy that all FIC have increased our Nordic presence but we channels follow worldwide: deliver the highest are developing a new channel that reaches quality programming possible. In the case of more viewers thanks to an impressive variety FOX Finland, this content combines FIC’s three of quality content, presented with a new and main genres: fiction, factual and lifestyle. fresh image that has surprised the audience.

Can you share any more details? Our first original production will be ‘Dance Your A** Off’, which is based on NBCUniversal’s hit format that has already been successfully produced in the US, China, Denmark, South Africa, Portugal and Estonia. It is a very fun and positive show, great family-viewing and also has better repeat value than most shiny-floor formats.

Is this launch part of a broader plan to move to the free-to-air terrestrial landscape? To date, FIC has primarily focused on pay TV, but first and foremost we are an entertainment content company. We are operating in many markets, all very different, and we adjust to the unique circumstances of each market and the opportunities that each market presents.

What percentage of said programming comes from FIC’s headquarters, third parties and local original production? FOX means ‘high quality entertainment’ and we are happy to work with all the studios and any distributors that have great content. We have quite a few shows from different distributors, including ‘Criminal Minds’ from Disney, and we also have our own international productions

What’s your opinion about the level of audiovisual production in Finland, compared to the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe? Finland is producing great quality at a relatively low cost compared to other Nordic countries. On the other hand, Finns are perhaps too humble and modest about our skills.

We truly have great producers, so let’s stop being modest about it. ttv

And what made this particular market stand out? Finland’s TV industry is very creative. Free-to-air channels are strong and always carry the best acquired shows. Pay TV penetration is low, around 35%. The strong freeto-air offering is now putting the focus on local production, local format development and new ideas. International broadcasters like

DANCE YOUR ASS OFF Format

such as ‘The Walking Dead’ that we distribute worldwide thanks to a collaboration agreement with AMC. That said, we are very pleased to have launched with some strong support and strong content from our sister company Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, as well as from National Geographic and other FIC properties including lifestyle from 24Kitchen. We will also be premiering our first big local production this fall.

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