The year in review Egmont Nordisk Film
Allan Hansen, Executive Vice President, Egmont Nordisk Film about the year 2009.
Which key words describe 2009?
2009 was a year of contrast for Egmont Nordisk Film, so the most appropriate key words are probably ‘cost-saving programme’ and ‘profit’. We started the year with a restructuring process that saved us around DKK 100 million. Simultaneously, the business units have shown great enterprise and dedication and hard work, so overall we emerged from the year with an amazing result.
What was satisfactory in 2009?
I’m pleased that we found the right solution for our TV business, which we decided to sell off in December. It was a very special venture that we hated to let go. However, under the new French owner, Banijay, they will get the full attention they deserve, and hopefully become the global player that they always intended to be. The sell-off will free resources for Nordisk Film, to develop its core activities in the film, PlayStation, cinema and music businesses.
What were the highlights of 2009?
Our cinemas had an exceptional year, with the highest box office sales ever: 6.2 million tickets sold in Denmark and 375,000 in Norway. The Stieg Larsson films proved an overwhelming success, in terms of film distribution. At the end of the year, almost 6.5 million Nordic cinema goers had seen the three films, and the first two had sold over 1.7 million DVDs. The trilogy is continuing to sell both tickets and DVDs in 2010. Finally, our film production unit defied the tough conditions in the Danish film industry, with three out of four film releases, performing above expectation in 2009.
What was your greatest challenge?
Most of our creative partners found 2009 a difficult year. Several of our partially owned companies are working on restructuring initiatives right now. We have also been forced to do severe cost savings in Nordisk Film’s post-production unit, and are now beginning to see a positive turnaround there.
What changes do you expect in 2010?
Our prime ambition is to optimise the business to ensure stable, profitable operations in the future. Nordisk Film has previously shown some profitable years – and we want to see the polar bear firmly in the black, for many years to come.
From which digital initiatives do you expect the most in 2010?
We are thrilled that Egmont has chosen Nordisk Film as location for the new Digital Centre, and thus the hub of all Danish digital initiatives. I look forward to follow the centre’s development and see the new digital initiatives outline.
2009 was a year of contrast for Egmont Nordisk Film, so the most appropriate key words are probably ‘cost-saving programme’ and ‘profit’. We started the year with a restructuring process that saved us around DKK 100 million. Simultaneously, the business units have shown great enterprise and dedication and hard work, so overall we emerged from the year with an amazing result.
What was satisfactory in 2009?
I’m pleased that we found the right solution for our TV business, which we decided to sell off in December. It was a very special venture that we hated to let go. However, under the new French owner, Banijay, they will get the full attention they deserve, and hopefully become the global player that they always intended to be. The sell-off will free resources for Nordisk Film, to develop its core activities in the film, PlayStation, cinema and music businesses.
What were the highlights of 2009?
Our cinemas had an exceptional year, with the highest box office sales ever: 6.2 million tickets sold in Denmark and 375,000 in Norway. The Stieg Larsson films proved an overwhelming success, in terms of film distribution. At the end of the year, almost 6.5 million Nordic cinema goers had seen the three films, and the first two had sold over 1.7 million DVDs. The trilogy is continuing to sell both tickets and DVDs in 2010. Finally, our film production unit defied the tough conditions in the Danish film industry, with three out of four film releases, performing above expectation in 2009.
What was your greatest challenge?
Most of our creative partners found 2009 a difficult year. Several of our partially owned companies are working on restructuring initiatives right now. We have also been forced to do severe cost savings in Nordisk Film’s post-production unit, and are now beginning to see a positive turnaround there.
What changes do you expect in 2010?
Our prime ambition is to optimise the business to ensure stable, profitable operations in the future. Nordisk Film has previously shown some profitable years – and we want to see the polar bear firmly in the black, for many years to come.
From which digital initiatives do you expect the most in 2010?
We are thrilled that Egmont has chosen Nordisk Film as location for the new Digital Centre, and thus the hub of all Danish digital initiatives. I look forward to follow the centre’s development and see the new digital initiatives outline.
March 2010
