Newsletter 21st of February

NEWSLETTER

21 February 2024

These are the main topics this week:

  • Mediavision: Great interest in ad-supported streaming subscriptions
  • Storytel Q4 earnings
  • Skyshowtime to release ad-supported tier

VIDEO

Mediavision: Great interest in ad-supported streaming subscriptions

 

In many countries, it has become increasingly common to offer cheaper online video subscriptions that also include advertisements. However, there are many reasons to believe that this type of subscription will become more popular, as it enables lower consumer prices. For the industry, this could be a way towards further growth, if the low-priced plans lead to households acquiring more subscriptions. For now, we can conclude that there is a significant interest among consumers in Sweden, where Mediavision recently asked consumers about their intersest in these types of subscriptions.

 

Read up on the full press release here, with commentary from Mediavision’s senior analyst Fredrik Liljeqvist.

 

Insight: Nordic TV & Streaming

 This analysis covers both the TV- and streaming markets in the Nordic countries. It rests on three pillars: the consumers, the market, and the actors. Analyzing the consumers takes us far – but not all the way. Studying the actors and the market as a whole is just as important.

 

Netflix releases premiere date and first look of Stolen

 

Oppenheimer comes to Skyshowtime in March

 

Paramount lays off 800 employees

 

Allente increases price of large TV package in Denmark

 

Netflix makes documentary about Young royals

EARNINGS

Storytel Q4 earnings 

 

The Q4 earnings season is coming to an end, but we still have a few reports to look at from the media industry. This past week, audiobook service Storytel presented its earnings. Here are a few of the highlights:

 

  • Storytel’s Q4 earnings was in line with the preliminary figures which the company released back in January.
  • Group revenue increased by 9% YOY from 867 MSEK to 946 MSEK.
  • Storytel’s EBITDA for the fourth quarter was -12 MSEK compared to 36 MSEK for the same period last year.
  • The average number of paying subscribers was 2.201 million in Q4 2023, compared to 2.036 million in Q4 2022

 

We still have a few reports to go this earnings season, stay tuned!

 

Insight: Nordic Media & Markets

This analysis tracks the progress of individual and household payments per service and actor, as well as overall media expenditures. The primary focus is mapping out the allocation of expenditures across audio, video, text, and access. Published biannually.

 

Ronja the Robber’s Daughter premieres March 28 on Netflix

 

EU is investigating TikTok

 

Apple set to face near EUR 500 Million in EU fine

 

Nordisk Film+ to be part of CBB Mix

 

Walmart buys Smart TV company VIZIO

VIDEO

Skyshowtime to release ad-supported tier

 

Last year several streaming services, including Disney+ and TV4 Play, introduced cheaper subscriptions that also include ads, so called Hybrid Video on Demand (HVOD), in the Nordics. Now, Skyshowtime has also announced that an ad-supported tier will be released in April.

 

The new ad-supported plan is named “Standard with Ads” and will be offered to consumers across all SkyShowtime markets, including the Nordics, from the 23rd of April. The new tier will cost EUR 4.99 in Finland, DKK 49 in Denmark, NOK 59 in Norway, and SEK 59 in Sweden. With the introduction of the new tier, Skyshowtime’s current and ad-free subscription is re-named to Standard Plus. The name-change of the ad-free tier also comes with a price hike of almost 30 percent compared to today’s price.

 

HVOD has experienced rapid global growth in recent times, and the trend is expected to continue. Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that its new streaming service Max will have such an option for Sweden and Norway when launching in the Nordics this spring. Both Amazon and Netflix offer cheaper ad-supported options on several markets, but has not yet revealed their plans for the Nordics.

 

Content Analysis

This analysis maps and analyses all on-demand content available on streaming services in the Nordics and its impact on consumption, actors, and market dynamics. It focuses on the interplay between supply and demand and thus provides a solid foundation for decision-making within content strategy and related areas.

 

Bonnier News acquires HSS Media

 

Amedia takes over Norwegian local media

 

Saxo goes live with a new app and webshop

 

Pluto TV in new collaboration with Brøndby fan media

 

DR acquires rights for women’s national team’s qualifying matches

Mediavision in the News

 

Mediavision: Growing demand for local content in the Nordics – Broadband TV News

 

Mediavision: Ad-Supported SVOD Gaining Traction in the Nordics – Media Play News

 

Mediavision: Starkt intresse för HVOD i Sverige – Dagens Media

 

Efterspørgslen på nordisk tv-indhold stiger men udbuddet kan ikke følge med – Mediawatch

 

Sweden: Interest growing in ad-supported streaming – Advanced Television

 

Svenskar vill se mer svenskt på streamad tv – Sveriges Radio

 

Illegal affär kostar filmindustrin miljarder – Dagens PS

 

Var fjärde svensk strömmar olaglig tv – SVT

 

Kan bli det store gjennombruddet for denne typen TV-abonnement – Kampanje

 

Mediavision: Digitala ljudtjänster tar andelar på ljudmarknaden – Radionytt

 

Return of media piracy fuelling other crimes, expert says – Yle

 

Krisen i tv-branschen fortsätter – nu ökar piratkopieringen – Aftonbladet

 

Industry Events

 

MIPTV: 15-17 April 2024, Cannes, France

 

* Mediavision will attend
** Mediavision will present