Acast launches the new podcast series Nordic Crimes - Nordic crime in a global format

Today, Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, announces that Nils Bergman, after enormous success in the Swedish market with podcasts like Rättegångspodden, Motiv, and Svenska Brott, is now taking the next step into the international stage with the new podcast series Nordic Crimes. This unique endeavor is a close collaboration with freelancers and production companies from the five Nordic countries, where each season will have a local angle and imprint on the content.

Nils Bergman’s own company, Tall Tale, and his previous productions have put the Swedish true crime podcast on the map. His podcasts “Rättegångspodden,” “Motiv,” and “Svenska Brott” have collectively garnered almost 14 million listens on the Swedish market, a clear testament to the enormous popularity Bergman’s previous productions have brought.

Nils Bergman, the creator of both Rättegångspodden and Nordic Crimes, says: “Finally being able to share Nordic Crimes with listeners feels like a huge milestone for me. Through close collaboration with local producers from across the Nordic region, we have portrayed each country’s unique criminal history authentically. With the focus on five different countries, listeners will experience several dimensions of the true-crime genre. My ambition is for Nordic Crimes to not only captivate the listener but also to deepen appreciation for true crime from our Nordic region. I am now looking forward to sharing Nordic Crimes with an international audience with the help of Acast”

With the new show Nils Bergman is stepping onto the international podcast scene and reaching a new audience, not only outside of Sweden but also beyond the Nordic region. The material is recorded in English, while local dialect narrators are used to capture each country’s unique character in every season. Something that has been made possible through a close collaboration with local producers in each country.

Teresa Odu, Partnerships Director Nordics, says: “With impressive skills in podcast production and a solid experience in the true-crime genre, Nils delivers yet another highly produced and captivating production that marks a significant step in an exciting journey towards an international audience. The demand for true crime from the Nordic region seems to be greater than ever. At Acast, we will help Nordic Crimes grow and reach listeners internationally, the podcast will be available on all listening platforms.”

The first season explores Finland’s criminal history from the 1970s onwards, intertwining gruesome cases with an unwavering pursuit of justice. In each episode, the listener is invited into a dark, unique chapter of criminal history - from the The hitchhiker murders in 1971 to the contemporary, dramatic case involving a once-celebrated but corrupt police chief. Through these stories, listeners deepen their understanding of each Nordic country’s unique criminal history and cultural heritage.

The podcast series will consist of a total of five seasons, one for each Nordic country. Each season will comprise five episodes, along with a sixth episode as well as exclusive preview listening via the subscription service Acast+, which offers paying subscribers ad-free listening, early access, and exclusive content. Finland will be the first Nordic country to be launched, followed by Iceland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Nordic Crimes will receive support from Acast to grow and reach international listeners, including a major cross-promotion campaign with partners in English-speaking markets. The first episode of Nordic Crimes will be available on March 5.