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

The podcast service Podme is expanding its offering in Finland and Sweden. By the end of June, the service will include audiobooks alongside its existing podcast content.

“We have surveys where subscribers have clearly shown that they are both interested in and willing to pay for a combined service with podcasts and audiobooks. So, this initiative is a direct response to what our customers want,” says Martina Göransson, CEO of Podme.

“As part of Schibsted, we are also contributing to a larger ambition: to create the Nordic region’s leading media destination. With a growing focus on audio and video throughout the group, Podme plays a key role in developing the audio landscape in a sustainable way.”

The new audiobook feature will be available through a new subscription plan, Premium Total, priced at SEK 189 per month in Sweden. Premium Total includes unlimited access to audiobooks, as well as the full library of Podme’s exclusive, ad-free podcasts.

“We are very pleased with the positive reception from several of Sweden’s leading publishers and are proud to be able to offer a broad and high-quality audiobook offering right from the start. There is a shared desire to grow the market – and here we see great potential in our podcast listeners, who already have a habit of listening to audio. This makes the step to audiobooks both natural and exciting,” says Nicolas Leon, Country Manager Sweden at Podme.

The audiobook selection will be integrated into the existing Podme app. Sweden and Finland will be the first markets to launch the new feature in June. Podme is also actively exploring the possibility of introducing audiobooks in Norway later this year, as the company states that it remains an important market.

Podme is the largest paid podcast service in Sweden, with approximately 200 000 households subscribing to the service. This is presented in Mediavision’s Q1 analysis of the Swedish audio market.

Less than two months after Max updated its logo to more closely resemble the classic black-and-white HBO color scheme, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed the name change during its upfront presentation in New York last week.

In a press release, Warner Bros. Discovery stated: “Returning the HBO brand to HBO Max will further drive the service forward and amplify the uniqueness that subscribers can expect from the offering. It is also a testament to WBD’s willingness to keep boldly iterating its strategy and approach — leaning heavily on consumer data and insights — to best position itself for success.”

The decision reflects renewed confidence in HBO’s strong brand equity. Although HBO and Max have maintained separate commercial branding, they have continued to compete together under the “HBO/Max” label for industry awards.

It’s fair to say the service has undergone a series of identity shifts — from HBO to HBO Nordic, to HBO Max, to just Max, and now back to HBO Max again. The official name change is expected to take place this summer.

Abonnementer med reklamer buldrer frem på dansk streamingmarked – Mediawatch

Danish streaming market tops 5 million – Broadband TV News

Ny våg av tillväxt för nordiska streamingabonnemang – Dagens Media
Nordmenn kjøper flest strømme-abonnement i Norden – Kampanje
Mediavision reports a huge increase in piracy in the Nordics – Cineuropa

Stor ökning hos yngre – allt fler väljer digital tidning – Sveriges Radio

Podcastlyssnandet på ny rekordnivå i Sverige – Omni

Over 700,000 households in Sweden now have access to illegal IPTV – Nordisk Film & TV Fond