Read up one the full press release here with commentary from Mediavision’s CEO Niklas Schultz.

The world’s largest broadcasters have urged the EU to enforce regulations on smart TVs and smart assistants built by Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung. These devices should fall under the EU’s toughest tech rules because of their growing market power, broadcasters told EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera on Monday.

The call came in a letter from the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT), whose members include Canal+, RTL, Mediaset, ITV, Paramount+, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sky and Groupe TF1.

The letter argues that Big Tech companies have increasing control over the operating systems of smart TVs and voice assistants, allowing them to act as “gatekeepers,” funnelling users towards some content and away from others.

Services such as Amazon’s Fire TV and Google TV have recommendation systems, as well as search functions, that may prioritise some content over others. These systems, built into many smart TVs, stand to shape how millions of users consume television.

“A limited number of operators are therefore gaining a growing ability to shape outcomes for millions of users and businesses by controlling access to audiences and content distribution,” ACT wrote in a letter to the EU’s antitrust chief, Teresa Ribera, as reported by Reuters.

“It is crucial that the Commission designate major TV operating systems as gatekeepers and ensure adequate oversight to guarantee fairness and contestability,” the broadcasters said.

Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung did not immediately respond to Reuter’s emailed requests for comment.

Prime Video is making a TV series about the love story of Sweden’s Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf. The new series, described by the media as a Swedish version of Netflix’s The Crown, has the working title Queen Silvia.

The series begins at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, where the couple’s love story also began in real life. German actor Alicia von Rittberg plays Silvia Sommerlath, while Edvin Endre, who previously portrayed Spotify founder Daniel Ek in The Playlist, takes on the role of Crown Prince Carl Gustaf. The series is set in Munich, Stockholm and the French Riviera.

Prime Video will carry the show in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordics. SAT.1 will air it free-to-air in Germany. Beta Film is handling international sales, while Germany’s Pyjama Pictures and Sweden’s Unlimited Stories are co-producing the series. It is directed by Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Alexandre, who also co-wrote the script with Lisa Hofer and Pauline Wolff.

Queen Silvia is expected to premiere in conjunction with the royal couple’s golden wedding anniversary in June this year.

The new international streaming service offered all Eliteserien matches for EUR 8.99 a month, equivalent to NOK 99. TV 2 holds the rights to Eliteserien in Norway, where it is included in a package with films, entertainment and international football, costing NOK 399 with ads or NOK 469 ad-free per month.

Knut Kristvang, chief executive of Norwegian football body Fotball Media, told Dagbladet: “If it is the case that these streams and subscriptions are being used to make the matches available for illegal distribution via IPTV, then we must change or remove this. We have therefore suspended this offer and this service until further notice.”

The low price point was an “introductory offer”, according to Kristvang.

He continued: “We have no desire for this to be perceived as differentiated pricing between Norway and markets outside Norway for this service, so we have taken this offer down and removed access for now.”

Lene Eltvik Vindfeld, TV 2’s communications director, told Dagbladet: “It is not unusual for Norwegian football to sell its product in other countries – just as we in Norway can watch leagues from other countries. What we are concerned about is the security of these services, so that this does not become a backdoor to circumvent our rights here at home.”

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