LICENSES FOR A MEDIA LANDSCAPE IN STRONG CHANGE

The people of Sweden have good access to the technical equipment for playing back television and moving images and this applies not only to televisions but also tablets, mobile phones and computers. Streaming services have made the range of television and moving images even greater. Access to these services increased in 2022 and at the same time they were increasingly being bundled and offered directly to subscribers together with traditional channel packages.

The trend for linear viewing has been declining for some time, while there has been a fight for market share in the streaming market where subscribers’ consumption remains high. There is great interest in watching films and series on the streaming platforms’ own television services, and Swedish households can currently choose between several operators of different subscription video on demand (SVoD) and play services.

Technological development and the rising demand for complete licences has meant that licence agreements are subject to regular review and renegotiation. Play services are a standard that both broadcasters and television operators make sure that they can offer their customers. These changes continue to impose demands on Copyswede in respect of ongoing operational and service development.

Copyswede’s channel repertoire has been split into three main areas for the past few years: channels from Sveriges Television (SVT), UR and SR; channels from TV4; and foreign channels. The number of channels continued to expand in 2022 and this is expected to continue in years to come.

The mediation with operators relating to the terms and conditions for retransmitting SVT and UR’s channels over the Internet came to a halt in 2022. Copyswede has subsequently worked intensively to develop content in new SVT OTT contracts and has presented this to the market.

The health and social care area

Copyswede developed tariff models last year within areas where there is a need to view television, such as within the health and social care area. Copyswede has produced a model for care providers that ena - bles television to be retransmitted in communal areas for residents.

The educational area

The implementation of the DSM Directive entailed new conditions for licensing in the educational area. Copyswede therefore produced an undated education licence for education coordinators last year for illustrative purposes in the course of teaching. This licence will be available for the school system starting in 2023.

Copyswede will otherwise continue to offer an agreement with UR for the schools’ use of programmes from UR.

The hospitality industry

Copyswede offers licences that enable hotels and other establishments to retransmit television and radio for their customers. An updated tariff model for Swedish channels in hotels was produced last year. This model will be further developed in 2023.