TV 2 and Amedia are joining forces on a joint rights offering for Norwegian football for the period 2026 to 2034. The media companies already share a streaming platform and aim to become the primary destination for Norwegian football.

“The fact that TV 2 and Amedia have joined forces on this offer represents a unique partnership in the Norwegian media landscape. We are uniting our complementary strengths to further develop the experience of Norwegian football. All based on the good cooperation we have had in recent years”, says Olav T. Sandnes, editor-in-chief and CEO of TV 2, and CEO Anders Opdahl of Amedia in a joint statement.

“Norwegian football is a mass movement that involves millions of Norwegians and is a central glue in society. In a time characterized by fragmentation, exclusion and global challenges, the Norwegian, editor-controlled media stand together as a necessary counterweight. For Amedia’s network of 130 newspapers in Norway and the streaming service Direktesport, the dissemination of Norwegian football is more than just a right; it is a central part of the media’s common social mission”, says Anders Opdahl.

Olav T. Sandnes highlights the significant national reach that the streaming platform TV 2 has built as a foundation for football’s further growth.

“TV 2 Play has already become a household name. The combination of TV 2’s position as a public broadcaster, this unique distribution and high daily usage, makes the platform the ideal destination for Norwegian football”, says Sandnes.

Amedia, which operates the streaming service Direktesport and a network of 130 local newspapers, will work with TV 2 to ensure extensive coverage. The companies are awaiting further dialogue and negotiation process with the rights holders before the companies release further details about their plans.

Minna Virkajärvi, executive producer at Banijay Finland commented: “Banijay Finland is known for creating innovative, culturally-resonate, and often satirical drama and comedy, and Survival Sisters is a natural step as we expand into short-form and vertical formats.

“Younger audiences are shifting the way we consume content, and this commission reflects both Yle’s and our commitment to exploring new ways of delivering premium storytelling without compromising ambition or quality. Susanna Karttunen is an exciting new Finnish voice, and this show’s relevance and sharp satirical edge will resonate strongly with viewers,” Virkajärvi said.

Teija Rantala, Yle’s Yle Chlidren’s and Youth Content Commissioner, added: “The theme of Survival Sisters hits close to home: The mood across Finland has grown uncertain, with young adults wondering what challenges their generation might be asked to face. With sharp, warm-hearted humour, the series asks what it means to be a good woman in a time of often overwhelming conversations – and above all, it liberates by making a difficult subject laugh-out-loud funny.”

Banijay Finland’s scripted slate includes the likes of crime titles Murder in Hanko and Detective Maria Kallio; comedies such as Supporting Actor and recently announced projects Queen Heist and The Good Widow.

Last week, Warner Bros. Discovery said its shareholders will vote on its proposed USD 110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance on April 23, marking a key step toward a deal that could reshape the media industry significantly. While investor approval would advance the transaction, it will still face scrutiny from US and European regulators assessing potential impacts on competition and pricing, Reuters reports.

Paramount has signaled confidence in a swift closing, offering Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders a quarterly “ticking fee” of USD 0.25 per share starting in October if the deal remains pending. The merger represents the latest wave of consolidation in the sector and would further strengthen Skydance CEO David Ellison’s influence, following the company’s USD 8.4 billion acquisition of Paramount.

Although some analysts have suggested the deal could encounter fewer regulatory hurdles, partly due to political connections, US antitrust officials have rejected that view. Omeed Assefi, acting head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, told ⁠Reuters the transaction will “absolutely not” receive expedited treatment based on political factors.

Medieutgifterna planar ut – fler väljer ljud och video framför text – Dagens Media

Sweden: Media spend stabilises – Advanced Television

US Platforms Command 75% of Europe’s Streaming Market – Señal News

Paramounts köp av Warner – så påverkas svenska konsumenter – Dagens Nyheter

Spotify har føjet en million abonnenter til det svenske lydbogsmarked – Mediawatch

Swedish Video Spending Hits Record High as Streaming Drives Market Reshaping – Señal News

Netflix–Warner Bros deal could cement Nordic streaming dominance – Broadband TV News

Spotifys nya drag: ”Tror på något annat” –SvD

Nya poddtrenden: Går över till video – ”Roligare” – Expressen

Traditional TV viewing in Sweden falls to less than a third of overall watch time – C21 Media