Newsletter 2nd of October

NEWSLETTER

2 October 2024

Welcome to this week’s newsletter from Mediavision. These are the main topics this week:

  • Mediavision: TikTok has over 1 million daily viewers in Sweden
  • Netflix’s CEO says HVOD is on hold in the Nordics
  • Disney expands paid sharing

Insight Ad-funded Video

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the ad-funded online video market, including video viewing on social media platforms. It offers comprehensive insights and key metrics related to viewing habits, demographics, and the video ad market. For more information, contact anton.ljung@mediavision.se

 

Schibsted and NWT enter subscription partnership

 

Amedia becomes sole owner of Bergensavisen

 

TV2 partners with technology platform FreeWheel

 

YouSee removes Danish films due to rights dispute

 

FAST platform Free Live Sports launches globally

STREAMING

Netflix’s CEO says HVOD is on hold in the Nordics

 

One of the strongest trends in the Nordic streaming industry over the past year has been the introduction of ads through a hybrid video-on-demand (HVOD) model, which combines consumer payments with advertising. Four of the five largest streaming services in the Nordics now offer HVOD subscriptions, and it may take some time before the fifth follows suit.

 

Last week, Netflix hosted a press lunch at its new Nordic office in Stockholm. During the event, Greg Peters, Netflix’s co-CEO, revealed that the company has no plans to launch an HVOD subscription in the Nordics. This is contrary to Netflix strategy is several other markets where it has introduced such offerings, including the US.

 

– “Currently, we are still learning how to grow and how the technology works. Only when we have become good at it can we start thinking about when and how to expand”, Peters said.

 

Another question raised during the press conference was whether Netflix plans to invest in local sports in the Nordics, an area the company currently does not engage in. According to Peters, such an initiative is not in the works currently.

 

– “We would have liked to have a lot of sports in our library, but what we have struggled with is making it work for our business. When broadcasting rights for sports are to be renewed, it is usually very expensive, so we instead try to offer sports in our own way: sports documentaries. We know we can offer that kind of storytelling successfully – our customers love it, and they work with our business, so we will do more of those”, Peters commented.

 

 

At the event, Netflix also unveiled three new Nordic projects, including the Swedish crime series Synden, written and directed by Peter Grönlund, and the Danish film SULT, written and directed by the comedy duo Ditte Hansen and Louise Mieritz. Additionally, after more than three years since the end of the second season of Home for Christmas, a third season is now in development and set to premiere on Netflix next year.

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.

 

AT&T sells stake in DirecTV…

 

… and DirecTV strikes deal to acquire Dish Network

 

Disney+ expands its live programing with four new channels

 

Google TV rebrands built-in FAST channels as Freeplay

 

Viaplay terminates agreement with Matchday Productions

STREAMING

Disney expands paid sharing

 

Another trend in the streaming landscape is restricting account sharing. Netflix was the first actor to introduce such an initiative last year, and after that, several actors have followed. Most recently, Disney+ announced last week that it is expanding its paid sharing program, which enables users to add a user outside the household for an additional monthly fee. This feature is now available in the US, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region after launching in select markets over the summer.

 

 

Account holders who wish to add someone outside their household can now do so using the extra member add-on. In the Nordics, the cost for an additional member is DKK 39/NOK 49/SEK 49 per month on the Standard with Ads subscription plan, and DKK 49/NOK 59/SEK 59 per month on the Standard and Premium plans. In Finland, where Disney+ currently offers only one subscription type, the extra member fee is EUR 5.99. However, new subscription plans, including an ad-supported option, will launch in Finland on October 17th.

 

Only one extra member slot is allowed per subscription. Disney+ notes that users can still travel and watch content, but requiers verification through e-mail, much like Netflix travelling feature.

 

Insikt TV & Streaming

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

Mediavision in the News

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

Industry Events

 

Northern Waves: 24th October, Oslo, Norway**

 

Stockholm Film Festival: 6-17th November, Stockholm, Sweden

 

* Mediavision will attend
** Mediavision will present