Jihde Brothers Take on World Hockey Tournament: From Suits to Studio, the Dynamic Duo Prepares for Viaplay

Niklas Jihde, 47, slips into the Viaplay office with a suit on point. The spring sun has finally caught up with Stockholm and it has a lot to look forward to.

Peter Jihde, 52, meets and settles down in a traditional and rather boring conference room. They finish each other’s sentences and are always on the move, you can imagine that there won’t be many quiet moments when they work together.

– Niklas has been called the best man in Sweden and he is, that can be both the best and the worst thing about him, says Peter.

They are preparing for a world hockey tournament that could be more interesting than in a long time. Several big NHL stars have embraced it.

– It’s an Olympic class in the background. It will be wonderful to see Karlsson, Hedman and Dahlin, says Niklas.

“You watch sport because you’re interested and involved, but also because you want to be entertained. Either the game, the ideas, or the product. You have to take it seriously, but you can’t be completely serious all the time,” said Peter Jihde.

Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

The World Cup is decided in the Czech Republic and Peter will be on site in Ostrava with Peter Forsberg, among others, and Niklas will keep his roles in the Stockholm studio. Despite the fact that they know each other and have been in the television industry for a long time, this is the first time they work together on such a large production.

– It is very honorable and inspiring to be able to work like this when you are sisters. We’ve both been in the business for so long, maybe it would have been a little different if you came in as an expert, says Niklas while Peter fills in the details quickly.

– You might start laughing. Maybe I’ll pull an old anecdote that will ruin it for you.

Peter’s big brother has hosted television broadcasts for almost 30 years and knows what is important when talking about sports.

– When I started as a presenter, Peter was at the top. And I tried to be as far away from him as I could. Otherwise, it will be “he only got in because he has a main program host in Sweden as an older brother”. So we have stayed away from each other for a long time.

Although they have not competed in the television market, they love to compete – and no one can imagine losing. They often play different racket sports and know how to motivate each other.

– The last time we played, he hit me directly three times, with one mind. And then he said sorry just like he wasn’t aiming at me, says Peter jokingly.

– Peter is probably the only one who can start that competitive spirit you had when you were active. We are very different as people but still the same when it comes to competition, replied Niklas.

But Peter disagrees really with.

– You still think you are better than me at the competition. Niklas could very well have won the toilet in kindness. It’s popular and well-liked, but I still think I could find 100 floorball players around Sweden who wouldn’t agree.

But they have an overman in the skull who wins. New colleague Peter Forsberg.

– I had the privilege of staying with him at the Master’s School. Then he was like “ok, Foppa hasn’t talked to me in 30 minutes”. He was completely focused on winning.

– I have been living with him in a tent on the Sabhan. Elephants attacked his camp, then he went out and taunted the elephants, Patrick laughs as Niklas replies “at least you covered me there “.

Peter Forsberg now lives in Zug and has a good understanding of Swiss hockey. In addition, it follows Modo closely. Now he will be a TV pundit during the World Cup.

Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Hockey has a special place in the Jihde family. Grandfather Sten played in the national team and Leif’s father was also good.

– It is among the proudest things we have in the family, that that grandfather played in Tre Kronor and he helped start IK Oskarshamn, says Niklas.

What are you most looking forward to in this year’s WC tournament?

– It is the path towards the gold itself. We covered 2018 (latest gold) and I stood next to Nicklas Lidström in the studio and tears came from him. Then you realized “shit what does this mean”. He has won everything he has, and yet the World Cup of Hockey where he is not even there means very little.

Viaplay your latest the past years with significant negative financial results. As a result, the prices of the subscriptions were increased.

– Our work becomes even more important when the company faces challenges. The toilet is one of the most important rights we have. It’s getting bad, said Peter.

– I can relate to when we did the Olympics in 2014, it was the first time that SVT would not be broadcasting. Then it felt like we were under incredible pressure, and at the Women’s World Cup this summer it was also bad; we had to scale back, but we would still make the best production we’ve ever done, says Niklas.

“Somehow we’ve always been able to piss each other off.”

Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

It remains to be seen whether the Jihde brothers will be sisters when the toilet is decided. But what is clear at least is that an intense but fun time awaits.

– You get into a bubble at these tournaments. It’s almost like being isolated from everything that happens outside. The Hockey World Cup is going to be the most important thing in the world right now and then.

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