Viaplay Group AB (publ) and Bell Media's Crave streaming service have agreed a partnership that brings premium Nordic content to audiences across Canada through Viaplay Select. From 18 January, Crave subscribers can access a selection of critically acclaimed Viaplay films and series, with a focus on Nordic noir, along with curated third-party productions from the region. The agreement makes Canada the 19th market for Viaplay Select, the branded content concept launched by Viaplay Group in April 2022.

The scripted Viaplay series available on Crave include the Nordic noir dramas `Face to Face' starring Ulrich Thomsen `Furia', `The Machinery' with Kristoffer Jonar and `Partisan', winner of Best Series at the 2020 Canneseries festival. Nordic noir is high-quality, psychologically penetrating crime drama from the Nordic region - a style of screen storytelling of which Viaplay is a leading producer. Also coming to Crave are Viaplay's highly rated young adult shows `Delete Me' and`Threesome'; the popular comedy-dramas `Harmonica', `Love Me' and `Pørni'; and curated third-party features such as `The Emigrants', `I Am Zlatan' and Ronnie Sandahl's `Tigers', Sweden's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2022 Academy Awards.

The Viaplay streaming service will launch direct-to-consumer in Canada in early 2023. Alongside Crave in Canada, Viaplay Select has launched on WOWOW in Japan, CINDIE in nine Latin American countries, SBS in Australia, and Pickbox NOW in seven markets in Eastern Europe. Viaplay Select is focused on markets where local partners can benefit from Viaplay's unique content pipeline.

Viaplay's direct-to-consumer offering is available in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Poland, the Netherlands and the UK, and will launch in the US and Canada in the first quarter of 2023.