Newsletter 25th of May

This week, we focus on the following topics:

Tiktok plans big push into gaming – and adds subscriptions?
Denmark imposes tax for streaming services

TIKTOK

Tiktok plans big push into gaming – and adds subscriptions?

Tiktok has been conducting tests allowing users to play games on its app in Vietnam, people familiar with the matter report, as part of plans for a major push into gaming. Tiktok is one of the most popular apps in the world with more than 1 billion monthly active users and is projected to grow its net ad revenues only in the US to USD 5.96 billion by the end of 2022, an increase of +184% year-over-year. Featuring games on its platform would boost advertising revenues even further. According to unnamed sources, TikTok also plans to roll out gaming more widely in Southeast Asia – possibly as early as in Q3 2022.

Earlier this year, we saw Netflix pushing into gaming as well. The company now offers in-app games to its subscribers and owns a few studios that develop games to be added to Netflix. In addition to Netflix, several other major streaming actors are already active in gaming – including Amazon, Apple, and Google.

In other Tiktok news – the company is ramping up competition with Twitch, YouTube, and others this week, as it prepares to launch Tiktok LIVE subscriptions. This is a new program that will allow creators to generate recurring revenues via payments from their fans. The program will officially launch into beta testing on May 26th, initially with a select number of creators who have been invited to participate.

Viaplay prolongs rights deal for English football

Apple Podcasts to allow third-party providers direct uploads

Nordic movies competes in Cannes

SF Studios co-producing doc on Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf

Disney predicts most Disney+ subscribers will shift to AVOD tier

SVOD

Denmark imposes tax for streaming services

Lawmakers in Denmark have agreed that global streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon and Disney will be obligated to pay a levy corresponding to 6 percent of their total revenue in the country to support local TV production. This decision follows the footsteps of previous actions taken by Switzerland and Portugal – and Spain is also due to introduce a similar levy.

Simultaneously, it was revealed that the support for DR (Denmark’s Public Service) will be increased by DKK 100 million until the end of 2025. “Denmark must go as far as possible in providing good public service to children and young people, which can serve as a real alternative to the tech giants’ platforms and foreign content,” the Ministry of Culture said in a statement on Saturday. The public service funds will now also include support for Danish-language content produced for radio and podcasts.

Mediavision in the News

Spår prisökningar på minst 10 procent – SVB

Have video streaming services reached maturity in Sweden yet? – Senal News

Fler samtal behövs om e-böcker på bibliotek – Biblioteks Bladet

Ingen vill ha den – ändå gör reklamen entré hos streamingtjänsterna – SR

Halvdelen af svenskerne lytter til podcast – Media Watch

Swedish SVOD growth flatlining, says Mediavision – Digital TV Europe

Millionen lydbokabonnenter – Bok365

Hälften av svenskarna lyssnar på podd under en vecka – Journalisten

Fler än 1 miljon svenska hushåll har ljudboksabonnemang –Boktugg

Allt fler lyssnar på ljudböcker – Svenska Dagbladet

Streamingmarknaden går in i en ny fas – här är utmaningarna – Dagens Media

Ny strömningstjänst till Sverige – men marknaden bromsar in – SVT

Industry Events

Connected TV World Summit: 24-25 May 2022, London, UK

NEM Dubrovnik: 6-9 June 2022, Dubrovnik, Croatia

MIPJunior: 15-16 October 2022, Cannes, France

MIPCOM: 17-20 October 2022, Cannes, France

* Mediavision will attend
** Mediavision will present