Swedish government proposes ban on illegal IPTV
NEWSLETTER
1 October 2025
Welcome back to another edition of Mediavision’s newsletter. Here are the main topics in this week’s newsletter:
- Join Mediavision’s Webinar on the Nordic TV & Streaming market
- Swedish government proposes ban on illegal IPTV
- OpenAI launches social media for AI-generated videos
- Trump renews tariff threats on foreign-made films
EVENT
Join Mediavision’s Webinar on the Nordic TV & Streaming market
The Nordic TV & streaming market is defined by abundance and fierce competition. The battle for attention is intensifying – and Mediavision will share our insights on the state of the market in our live webinar on October 22.
We will trace the shift from scarcity to overload and explore the challenges facing broadcasters, pay TV operators, and global platforms in an increasingly fragmented landscape.
Fredrik Liljeqvist, Mediavision’s Principal Analyst, will guide you through the current state of the Nordic TV & streaming market. Topics include:
• Growing streaming competition in both viewing and payment
• The rise of social video
• Age-based consumption patterns
• Subscription streaming’s shift toward new models
The webinar takes place on October 22 at 12:00 CEST. Sign up here and join!
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PIRACY
Swedish government proposes ban on illegal IPTV
Sweden’s government-appointed investigator Eva Bergquist has proposed a legal reform that would make it explicitly illegal for private individuals to use illegal IPTV services. The proposal, published in SvD Debatt, argues that it is “almost impossible” to stop piracy at the source, so the law must target consumption, which is currently considered a legal grey area.
Bergquist, together with Secretary Jakob Kihlberg, writes that “it must be clear that it is punishable for individuals to use the kind of illegal IPTV services that are common on the market today.” The investigators also suggest giving the Police and Swedish Tax Agency stronger mandates to prioritize such cases, while the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV) and the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) should receive specific assignments in the area.
The report further recommends removing illegal IPTV links from search results and exploring options for live blocking illegal streams during ongoing events, a practice already used in several European countries.
Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed welcomes the proposal, saying that both elite and grassroots sports lose significant revenues due to piracy and that law-abiding citizens face higher subscription costs as a result. Following publication of the proposal, Viaplay’s share rose about 4% in early Tuesday trading.
For more insights on illegal IPTV usage and its impact across the Nordics, see Mediavision’s analysis Nordic Piracy.
SOCIAL MEDIA
OpenAI launches social media for AI-generated videos
OpenAI is entering the social media market with a new app called Sora. The app allows users to create and share videos featuring themselves – all with the help of artificial intelligence, Mediawatch writes.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calls Sora a platform that makes it easy to turn ideas into finished videos, where new social dynamics can emerge. He writes on X: “For many of us, it feels like a new ChatGPT for creativity—it’s fun and new.”

One standout feature is the ability to create realistic AI videos of yourself and place your likeness in different digital settings. To prevent public figures from being misused, the app requires special verification, including moving your head in different directions so the system can confirm your identity.
The app also lets rights holders, such as TV and film producers, block their content from appearing in Sora. According to Reuters, Disney has already chosen to do so.
A launch date for Sora has not yet been announced. The app will offer both video streaming control and parental controls for users.
PRODUCTION
Trump renews tariff threats on foreign-made films
The US government plans to introduce a 100% tariff on films produced outside the United States. The proposal, part of a broader push to strengthen domestic production, would apply to all movies made abroad but distributed in the US.
The administration argues that the tariff would protect American jobs and encourage local filmmaking. Critics, however, warn that the measure could violate international trade agreements and severely disrupt the global film industry, where US studios often rely on international partners, financing and locations.
Industry observers describe the plan as both unprecedented and highly controversial, noting that major studios would face increased costs and logistical challenges if the proposal moves forward.
Mediavision in the News
Norske ungdommer bruker mest tid på SoMe i Norden – KOM24
High AI use in the Nordic media industry – Broadband TV News
Sweden: SVoD subs at record levels – Advanced Television
Svenskar strömmar mest reklamvideo i Norden – Dagens Nyheter
Report: Ad-funded content now half of Swedes’ online viewing – Advanced Television
Spotifys nya plan kan förändra bokmarknaden – Svenska Dagbladet
Social video slår rekord – nu ökar pressen på de lokala aktörerna – Dagens Media
Report: Social video consumption soars in Nordics – Advanced Television
Spotifys popularitet kan tränga ut ljudbokstjänsterna – Svensk Bokhandel
Abonnementer med reklamer buldrer frem på dansk streamingmarked – Mediawatch
Danish streaming market tops 5 million – Broadband TV News
Nordmenn kjøper flest strømme-abonnement i Norden – Kampanje
