The algorithms of social media giants are well-kept secrets, but perhaps, not for much longer. Last week, the EU Commission requested information from YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok on the parameters used by their algorithms to recommend content. This is a move to investigate the role of the platforms when it comes to risks connected to elections, mental health and the protection of minors.

The request, made under the Digital Services Act (DSA), “also concern the platforms’ measures to mitigate the potential influence of their recommender systems on the spread of illegal content, such as promoting illegal drugs and hate speech,” the EU Commission said in a statement.

The companies must provide the requested information by November 15th. Following the deadline, the Commission will review the replies and determine potential further steps, including fines for non-compliance. The EU has previously initiated non-compliance actions under the DSA to force large tech companies to take better action against illegal and harmful content on their platforms, including Meta which notably was not included in this case.

In Sweden, the consumption of video via social media – social video – has increased massively. During the last four years, daily reach of social video has increased by over 150 percent. Viewing of social video is especially high among younger people. For instance, 15-24-year-olds spend as much as 40 percent of their total viewing time on social video—more than on any other video service.

As social video increases, the landscape for ad-funded online video is reshaping. Mediavision has therefore released a new report on the subject, named Insight Ad-funded Video. The report is an in-depth analysis of a the rapidly growing and increasingly competitive market of ad-funded online video. The report offers unique insights into online video consumption, how behavior differs across age groups and services, and how this impacts the revenues of these services. The report is now available for order, please contact anton.ljung@mediavision.se for more information.

The Swedish public service broadcaster SVT has renewed its agreement with the British sports streaming service DAZN for the upcoming season of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. In total, SVT will broadcast 13 matches: six from the group stage, four quarter-finals, two semi-finals, and the final at the end of May next year. In this year’s tournament, which kicked off yesterday, two Nordic teams have qualified: Hammarby from Sweden and Vålerenga from Norway, both of which play their first matches tonight.

– “We are pleased to once again collaborate with DAZN to continue our investment in the Champions League. We expect significant interest in Hammarby’s matches and are excited to see several Swedish national team players competing for the top clubs that have qualified for the tournament. It’s football at the highest level”, says SVT’s sports manager Max Bursell.

DAZN will continue to broadcast all matches from the tournament. The streaming service holds the rights to the tournament throughout the Nordics. In Sweden, around 270 00 15-74-year-olds states interest in watching the Women’s Champions league via online/TV. This is presented in Mediavision’s latest Sports analysis.

Now, just over half a year after the introduction of ads, Amazon plans to increase the ad load on Prime Video during next year. The news comes from the Financial Times, which reported on comments by Amazon’s vice president of Prime Video International, Kelly Day.

Day told Financial Times that Prime Video’s advertising load would “ramp up a little bit more into 2025.” She did not specify whether the increased ad load would mean increased number of ad breaks or longer versions of the consisting ones. Currently, Prime video shows ads before programs, but not in the middle of them.

According to Financial Times, Amazon Prime Video will include a new interactive and shoppable ad format, when the advertisement load is increased during next year. The interactive and shoppable ads on Prime Video will reportedly allow viewers to add an advertised product to their Amazon shopping cart, without having to leave the show they are currently watching.

For the Nordics, no information regarding an introduction of ads on Amazon Prime Video has been communicated.

TikTok has over 1 million daily viewers in Sweden – Broadband TV News

Tiktok har over én mio. daglige brugere i Sverige – Mediawatch

Growth in Sweden for podcasts and streaming – Podnews

Marie Nilsson: Social video på frammarsch – kan fördubbla dagens avod-marknad – Dagens Media

Report: Continued growth for streamed music in Sweden – Advanced Television

Filmer og serier «herfra» har vært nødvendig i jakten på kunder – Kampanje

Piratforbrug af film, serier og sport steg med otte pct. i 2023 – Mediawatch

Mediavision’s Adrian Grande shares his takes on HVOD in the Nordics – Nordisk Film & TV Fond

Norge på topp på strømming, men globale aktører løper ifra – Medier24

Pirat-tv ökar i Norden: ”Sverige har en tradition” – Sveriges Radio