The deal and what it covers
ITV Studios signed an overall agreement with Karsten Bartholin and Kenneth Kristensen, prolific creators behind several Nordic unscripted hits. The pact gives ITV Studios priority access to their future reality and competition formats, with options to co-develop concepts for English-language markets. The partners aim to build out a slate that can travel quickly—shows with clear rules, compact casts, and scalable budgets for both primetime and streaming. Early development will focus on social-strategy games and relationship-driven challenges, categories that continue to perform with global buyers.

The agreement reflects a broader push by major distributors to lock in upstream talent before formats break out. In recent cycles, networks have sought “plug-and-play” programs that deliver predictable week-to-week beats without costly spectacle. Nordic producers have carved out a niche for tightly engineered formats that balance character drama with clever mechanics. By structuring the deal as an overall, ITV Studios can test multiple concepts in parallel, then fast-track pilots in territories where partners need quick replacements on their schedules.

Why Nordic formats travel—and what buyers want next
Nordic unscripted shows tend to emphasize simple, repeatable hooks: closed environments, transparent scoring, and twists that reset power dynamics without confusing viewers. That clarity helps formats adapt culturally while retaining core structure. Streamers and free-to-air channels alike now want concepts that can spin off digital extensions—short-form confessionals, live-voting specials, and clip-friendly moments built for social feeds. Buyers also want safeguards: clear welfare protocols for contestants, robust editing standards, and data-sharing agreements to measure minute-by-minute engagement.

This deal lands as entertainment budgets face pressure and commissioners chase reliable lifts in the 18–34 demo. Expect pilot sizzles to hit European markets first, followed by English-language test runs where ad buyers can bundle linear and streaming placements. If one or two series pop, local remakes will follow, with co-pro financing smoothing risk. For viewers, it means another wave of competition and reality titles built for bingeing, recap podcasts, and Tuesday-morning office chatter.