An extra €20m will be earmarked towards the development and acquisition of new Finnish TV drama between 2017-2020.

Yle’s decision to increase its drama input from independent producers was based on recommendations from a Parliamentary working group. The announcement came last week as part of an overall reshuffling of the company and attempt from the public broadcaster to adapt to viewers changing media habits and increased international competition. 

The goals over the next four years are to widen the range of drama series produced and commissioned, to increase the drama offer on the web TV service Yle Areena in addition to focusing on future niche online channels and news services, content for children and youth and international co-productions.

Ville Vilén, Yle Head of Creative Content said: “TV drama is in a golden age internationally, and Finnish content is comfortably on the bandwagon. Together with Finnish production companies, we want to create new hits, including for the international market. “ Recent Finnish dramas that enjoyed international interest include the eco-thriller Tellus (first Yle TV drama picked up by ZDF Enterprises), crime drama Hooked, produced by Moskito and sold by DRG, and upcoming noir thriller Bordertown, produced by Fisher King and handled worldwide by Federation Entertainment. 

Commenting on Yle’s new drama strategy, Milla Bruneau, COO at Yellow Film & TV (Downshifters, Nurses) said: “We are very pleased with Yle’s decision. Hopefully this means that they are willing to play a bigger role in supporting domestic content and getting it to travel.”

Fisher King Productions’ Matti Halonen, producer of Bordertown told nordicfilmandtvnews.com: “2016 has been tough for Finnish independent producers and of course it’s great news that Yle will increase the commissioning from the indie sector. Commercial broadcasters are also having hard times and do not commission as much as they use to, so hopefully Yle’s decision will compensate that.”

As part of an overall cost-cutting exercise the Swedish language Yle Fem and cultural channel Yle Teema are set to merge in spring 2017. Some 450 jobs might be lost in the reshuffling.