The 12 largest media and platform companies together invested a record $210B in content in 2024, according to KPMG. That represents about 10% annual growth since 2020, despite headwinds like the pandemic and Hollywood strikes. Comcast led with $37B, followed by YouTube ($32B), Disney ($28B), Amazon ($20B) and Netflix ($17B).

The report highlights how the very definition of “content” is shifting, with growth increasingly driven by user-generated ecosystems, free ad-supported streaming, and sports rights. YouTube’s numbers show this change in action: its spend has climbed from $12B in 2020 to $32B in 2024, pushing its share of the total from 8.4% to 15.2%. No other company has grown as much in absolute or relative terms, underlining how platforms built on creators and UGC are now central to global media economics.

AI is flagged as the next major force, with generative tools expected to streamline production, enable personalized viewing, and open up new revenue streams.

Media giants continue to invest heavily in the Nordics, too, adding more than 100 new local titles in 2024. At the same time, demand is shifting, with growing appetite for social video and UGC (user-generated content). More on this will be covered in Mediavision’s upcoming Content Analysis, to be released in November.

Sweden’s telecom regulator PTS has proposed scrapping the current rules that govern terrestrial radio and TV distribution, starting from next year. The agency argues that regulation no longer benefits consumers since most people now access radio and television through streaming and internet services.

Today, the terrestrial network operator Teracom is required to offer broadcasting services at cost-based prices. PTS says this obligation no longer ensures lower costs or stronger competition, as more broadcasters are leaving the terrestrial network altogether.

The backdrop is clear: pay TV via the terrestrial network has effectively disappeared, and major broadcasters such as TV4 are preparing to end their terrestrial transmissions. Meanwhile, internet-based access to radio and TV is already widespread across most of Sweden.

What could this mean? If deregulation goes ahead, Teracom and other operators would no longer be bound by regulated pricing. That could reduce administrative pressure on network owners, but might also lead to higher costs or weaker coverage in areas that still depend on terrestrial services. For most consumers who already use streaming or cable, the change will likely go unnoticed.

PTS is now gathering feedback from broadcasters, companies, and the public before sending its final proposal to the EU Commission for approval.

Europe’s recorded music revenues jumped 8.3% in 2024, the strongest growth of any major region worldwide, according to IFPI. Streaming drove the surge, with millions of new subscribers and higher monthly fees adding billions to the industry’s top line.

France (+7.5%), Germany (+4.1%) and the UK (+4.9%) all delivered robust results, proving that even the most mature markets can accelerate when pricing power meets strong consumer demand.

Mediavision tracks the Nordic audio market where the same trend is clearly visible. Compared to spring 2024, Nordic households spent 15% more on audio (music streaming, audiobooks and podcasts) in spring 2025. This increase was driven primarily by price hikes rather than higher penetration. It is worth noting that the music industry extends beyond household audio spending, but the figures illustrate the direction of movement – and with Spotify having raised prices again in August, growth is expected to continue

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