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

Growth in streaming subscriptions has been observed across the Nordics. Stay tuned – more on this will follow in the coming weeks.

• Consolidated Alphabet revenues in Q1 2025 increased 12%, or 14% in constant currency, YOY to USD 90.2 billion reflecting momentum across the business, with Google Search & other, YouTube ads, Google subscriptions, platforms, and devices, and Google Cloud each delivering double-digit growth.
• Total operating income increased 20% and operating margin expanded by 2 percentage points to 34%.
• YouTube advertising revenue grew 10.3% YOY to USD 8.93 billion in Q1 2025. Overall advertising grew 8.5% YOY to USD 66.89 billion.
• Driven by YouTube and Google One, Alphabet surpassed a total of 270 million paid subscriptions.

Sanoma

• The Sanoma group’s net sales amounted to EUR 221.1 million in Q1 2025, compared to EUR 220.9 in the corresponding period last year. Net sales of Media Finland declined -6% YOY mainly due to lower advertising sales. The Group’s organic net sales development was stable.
• Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) was stable and amounted to EUR -31.3 million in Q1 2025.
• Subscription sales increased 3% YOY to EUR 65.9% in Q1 2025, especially driven by growth in SVOD service Ruutu+. No subscriber figures were presented.

Spotify

• Total revenue grew 15% YOY for Spotify to EUR 4.2 billion in Q1 2025.
• The company presented a record high operating income of EUR 509 million, with a margin of 12.1%.
• Premium subscribers increased 12% YOYto 268 million, reflecting YOY and QOQ growth across all regions.
• Total monthly active users grew 10% YOY to 678 million in Q1 2025.

Storytel

• Storytel group revenue grew 7% YOY to SEK 953 million and equals 7% at constant exchange rates (CER).
• Net profit for the period amounted to SEK 19 million, compared to – SEK 23 million in Q1 2024.
• Storytel’s streaming revenue increased 6% YOY. Publishing revenue also grew, up 16% compared to Q1 2024.
• In Q1 2025, Storytel surpassed 2.5 million paying subscribers, and the streaming segment expanded its subscriber base by 11% YOY.

Telia

• Telia’s revenue increased 3.5% YOY to SEK 20,035 million, compared to 19,360 in Q1 2024, and like for like, revenue increased 3.3% YOY.
• Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased 6.7% YOY to SEK 7,803 million and like for like, adjusted EBITDA increased 6.7% YOY.
• Total net income dropped to SEK 692 million, compared to SEK 757 million a year ago.
• On February 25th, 2025, Telia Company entered into an agreement to divest TV and Media to Schibsted Media for an enterprise value of SEK 6.55 billion on a cash and debt-free basis. As a result, TV and Media is classified as discontinued operations and a net, non-cash impairment of SEK 1.9 billion was recognized within discontinued operations.

Viaplay Group

• Viaplay’s total group net sales decreased from SEK 4,757 million in Q1 2024, to SEK 4,374 million in Q1 2025.
• Total reported operating income was SEK 38 million, compared to SEK -473 million in Q1 2024, including ACI of SEK 34m (32) and IAC1 of SEK 231m (-188).
• Viaplay subscribers decreased by 4% YOY to 4,651 million, while streaming subscription sales increased by 1%.
• The core operations full-year financial targets of low-to-mid single-digit percentage organic revenue growth, and positive free cash flow are reiterated and unchanged.

French entertainment and production company Banijay is reportedly in early discussions regarding a takeover offer for British broadcaster ITV or its production division, ITV Studios. This potential move could significantly reshape the European television production landscape, according to several reports, including The Financial Times.

The Financial Times claims that Banijay Group has held preliminary talks with the UK network about acquiring either the entire business or its coveted ITV Studios operation. The report states that if Banijay was to pursue a full takeover of ITV, it would seek third-party investors to help complete the deal. However, all discussions are reportedly still at a very early stage.

Banijay Group became one of the world’s largest independent production companies after acquiring Endemol Shine Group in 2020. Banijay produces and distributes hundreds of programs and formats, including Big Brother, MasterChef, and Survivor.

ITV Studios is also among the world’s biggest TV production companies, with production units across several European countries, as well as in the United States and Australia. The company is behind shows such as Love Island and current BAFTA TV Award nominee Rivals. The studio’s estimated value exceeds GBP 3 billion.

There has been ongoing speculation about the future of ITV Studios and potential suitors. Earlier this year, reports claimed that the Abu Dhabi-backed investment group RedBird IMI had held talks with ITV about merging ITV Studios with All3Media, which RedBird acquired in 2024 for USD 1.45 billion.

Neither Banijay nor ITV have commented on the latest reports.

Sharp increase in Swedish streaming subscriptions – Broadband TV News
 

Marie Nilsson: Stark inledning på streamingåret 2025 – Dagens Media

Mediavision reports a huge increase in piracy in the Nordics – Cineuropa

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

TV 2 og producent har klinket skårene og vender tilbage til oprindelig plan for Superliga-kampe – Mediawatch

Competition intensifies in Finnish streaming market – Broadband TV News

Podcastlyssnandet på ny rekordnivå i Sverige – Omni

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

Research: Sweden adds 1m SVoD subs in 2024 – Advanced Television

Apparna avslöjar svenskarnas dåliga vanor – Dagens Industri

Research: Half Norwegian households now have streaming bundles via operators – Advanced Television

Tiktok störst bland unga – det blir konsekvenserna – Expressen

Stadig flere velger strømming med reklame: – Lar seg ikke skremme – Kampanje