Skip to content
1981
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Journal of Digital Media & Policy
  4. Volume 14, Issue 3
  5. Article
US-Based SVoD Providers in Europe: Impacts and Challenges
  • ISSN: 2516-3523
  • E-ISSN: 2516-3531

Abstract

Foreign movies, especially on DVD, were a large part of the revenue stream for Norwegian film distribution companies before 2013. This revenue was also relatively predictable compared to the high risk of investing in Norwegian movies. However, the rise of Netflix and other global subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) services not only brought a sudden loss of DVD income, it also reduced access to foreign movies and increased the relative value of the high-risk local movies. This article uses quantitative data on films in Norwegian cinemas from 2008 to 2019 and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders performed in 2019 and 2020 to examine how Norwegian distributors responded to this change. It finds that Norwegian distributors shifted towards a strategy where they are increasingly first-run distributors for local movies at the expense of being sub-distributors for foreign movies. The major local distributors have also become increasingly vertically integrated.

© 2023 Intellect Ltd
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/jdmp_00133_1
2023-11-30
2025-05-15
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Alfredson, Daniel (2009a), Flickan som lekte med elden, Sweden: Yellow Bird and Nordisk Film.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Alfredson, Daniel (2009b), Luftslottet som sprängdes, Sweden: Yellow Bird and Nordisk Film.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Ashurst, Will (2020), Jul på KuToppen, Norway: Qvisten and SF Studios.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Ashurst, Will (2023), Kutoppen – På sporet, Norway: Qvisten and Nordisk Film.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Bakøy, E. and Øfsti, M. (2021), ‘Filmens grå eminenser: distributørene’, Norsk medietidsskrift, 28:2, pp. 1–18.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Beforeigners (2019–22), Norway: Rubicon and HBO Nordic.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Berge, J. (2013), ‘SF Norge bekrefter slanking av staben’, Videomagasinet, 19 June, https://videomagasinet.no/artikkel/sf-norge-bekrefter-slanking-av-staben/. Accessed 9 February 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Bræin, Hallvard (2014), Børning, Norway: Filmkameratene and SF Studios.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Bræin, Hallvard (2020), Børning 3, Norway: Filmkameratene and SF Studios.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Cones, J. (1996), The Feature Film Distribution Deal: A Critical Analysis of the Single Most Important Film Industry Agreement, Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Crisp, V. (2015), Film Distribution in the Digital Age: Pirates and Professionals, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Disen, O. (1997), Den store illusjonen: filmbyråenes historie, Oslo: Norske filmbyråers forening.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. European Commission (2019), Clearance of Telia’s acquisition of Bonnier Broadcasting, European Commission, 19 November, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_19_6271. Accessed 9 May 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Film & Kino (2020), Årboka 2019, Oslo: Film & Kino.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Forster, Marc (2023), A Man Called Otto, Sweden: SF Studios.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Gaustad, T., Engelstad, A., Foseid, H., Lading, I. and Grünfeld, L. (2022), Nye regler for tilskudd til film og TV-produksjon: Hva blir konsekvensene for næringen?, Oslo: Menon.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Gaustad, T., Grünfeld, L., Engelstad, A., Dombu, S., Flesche, B. and Lind, L. (2020), Evaluering av tilskuddsordninger på filmområdet, Oslo: Kulturdepartementet.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Gaustad, T., Theie, M., Eidsvold-Tøien, I., Torp, Ø., Gran, A. and Espelien, A. (2018), Utredning av pengestrømmene i verdikjeden for norske filmer og serier, Oslo: BI: Center for Creative Industries.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Greece, C. (2021), Circulation of European Films on VoD and in Cinemas, Strasbourg: European Audiovisual Observatory.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Haddal, P. and Hoenvoll, B. (2015), Fra film til fil: filmbyråenes historie, Oslo: Norske filmbyråers forening.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Herdal, Jarand (2020), Kadaver, Norway: Motion Blur Films and Netflix.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Helseth, T. and Moseng, J. (2020), Norsk film A/S: en kulturhistorie, Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Hjem til Jul (2019–20), Norway: The Oslo Company and Netflix.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Iversen, G. (2016), ‘Norsk film begravet under monolitten? Norsk filmproduksjon og statens filmpolitikk’, in E. Bakøy, R. Puijk and T. Helseth (eds), Bak kamera: norsk film og TV i et produksjonsperspektiv, Vallset: Oplandske bokforlag.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Kanzler, M. (2018), Fiction Film Financing in Europe: A Sample Analysis of Films Released in 2016, Strasbourg: European Audiovisual Observatory.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Kay, J. (2010), ‘WBPI strikes Nordic deals in wake of Sandrew Metronome restructure’, Screen Daily, 15 December, https://www.screendaily.com/distribution/wbpi-strikes-nordic-deals-in-wake-of-sandrew-metronome-restructure/5021650.article. Accessed 4 June 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Keslassy, E. (2020), ‘Norway’s Maipo film acquires Headhunters production banner Friland (EXCLUSIVE)’, Variety, 31 August, https://variety.com/2020/film/global/maipo-film-headhunters-friland-1234754528/. Accessed 12 May 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Krumsvik, A., Kvale, K. and Pedersen, P. (2017), ‘Market structure and innovation policies in Norway’, in H. van Kranenburg (ed.), Innovation Policies in the European News Media Industry: A Comparative Study, Cham: Springer, pp. 149–60.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Kulturdepartementet (2015), Meld. St. 30 (2014–2015) En fremtidstrettet filmpolitikk, Oslo: Kulturdepartementet.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Launing, Katarina (2018), Battle, Norway: Friland and Netflix.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Lilyhammer (2012–14), Norway: Rubicon TV, NRK and Netflix.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Lismoen, K. (2017), ‘Hva betyr SF Studios oppsigelser for norsk film?’, Rushprint, 7 July, https://rushprint.no/2017/07/hva-betyr-sf-studios-oppsigelser-for-norsk-film/. Accessed 9 February 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Lobato, R. (2019), Netflix Nations: The Geography of Digital Distribution, New York: University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Meir, C. (2019), Mass Producing European Cinema: Studiocanal and Its Works, New York: Bloomsbury Academic & Professional.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Mintzberg, H. (1987), ‘The strategy concept I: Five Ps for strategy’, California Management Review, 30:1, pp. 11–24.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Moseng, J. (2016), ‘Produksjonslandskapet i norsk film’, in E. Bakøy, R. Puijk and T. Helseth (eds), Bak kamera: Norsk film og TV i et produksjonsperspektiv, Vallset: Oplandske bokforlag, pp. 47–64.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Moseng, J. (2017), ‘The film and television industries in Norway’, in E. Bakøy, R. Puijk and A. Spicer (eds), Building Successful and Sustainable Film and Television Businesses: A Cross-National Perspective, Bristol: Intellect, pp. 21–43.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Nordisk Film & TV Fond (2008), ‘Nordisk’s Ritto: Big plans to partner talent’, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, 15 February, https://nordiskfilmogtvfond.com/news/stories/nordisks-ritto-big-plans-to-partner-talent. Accessed 9 May 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) (2019), Facts & Figures 2018, Oslo: NFI, https://www.nfi.no/statistikk/statistikk-analyse-og-rapporter/_/attachment/download/b8ebd1a9-887d-4898-84a8-f7b94a538bbb:3bcb06473169b70507a8635336b4d9880097c24d/FACTS&FIGURES%202018.pdf. Accessed 10 May 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) (2021), ‘Nye forskrifter: -Sammen skal vi gi norsk film et løft inn i fremtiden’, NFI, 12 February, https://www.nfi.no/aktuelt/2021/nye-forskrifter-sammen-skal-vi-gi-norsk-film-et-loft-inn-i-fremtiden. Accessed 21 July 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Øfsti, M. (2019), ‘Den norske videobutikken: 1979–2017’, Nordlit, 41, pp. 87–107.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Øfsti, M. (2020), ‘Distributor strategies in the face of closed cinemas: Norwegian responses to COVID-19’, Baltic Screen Media Review, 8:1, pp. 54–66.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Øfsti, M. (2023), ‘Norway after Netflix: Local distributor strategies in a global movie market’, Ph.D. thesis, Trondheim: Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet (NTNU).
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Oplev, Niels Arden (2009), Män som hatar kvinnor, Sweden: Yellow Bird and SF Studios.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Osvoll, Lise (2018), KuToppen, Norway: Qvisten and Nordisk Film.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Perren, A. (2013), ‘Rethinking distribution for the future of media industry studies’, Cinema Journal, 52:3, pp. 165–71.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Pham, A. (2020), ‘Nordisk Film partners The Wave producers Fantefilm’, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, 24 April, https://nordiskfilmogtvfond.com/news/stories/nordisk-film-partners-the-wave-producers-fantefilm. Accessed 12 May 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Pham, A. (2023), ‘A Man Called Otto set to beat Girl with Dragon Tattoo at global B.O.’, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, 2 March, https://nordiskfilmogtvfond.com/news/stories/a-man-called-otto-set-to-beat-girl-with-dragon-tattoo-at-global-b-o. Accessed 10 May 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Poort, J. and van Til, G. (2020), ‘The role of territorial licenses and public support schemes in financing European films’, International Journal of Cultural Policy, 26:5, pp. 597–616.
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Rønning, Jakob and Sandberg, Espen (2008), Max Manus, Norway: Filmkameratene and Nordisk Film.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Roxborough, S. (2012), ‘SF Norge buys Norwegian production group Motion Blur’, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 December, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sf-norge-buys-group-motion-403121/. Accessed 12 May 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Roxborough, S. (2018), ‘SF Studios buys Norway’s paradox, producer of The King’s Choice, U-July 22’, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 December, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sf-studios-buys-norways-paradox-producer-kings-choice-u-july-22-1168567/. Accessed 12 May 2023.
     [Google Scholar]
  53. Rushprint (2014), ‘Hvorfor forlater Guttorm Petterson SF Norge?’, Rushprint, 25 April, https://rushprint.no/rushes/guttorm-petterson-forlater-sf-norge/. Accessed 9 February 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Rushprint (2019), ‘Hundrevis av nordiske filmer gjøres tilgjengelig på TV 2’, Rushprint, 29 November, https://rushprint.no/2019/11/hundrevis-av-nordiske-filmer-gjores-tilgjengelig-pa-tv2/. Accessed 20 February 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  55. Søderlind, Ingvild (2022), Battle: Freestyle, Norway: Friland and Netflix.
     [Google Scholar]
  56. Sofiedal, Martin (2022), Blasted: Gutta vs aliens, Norway: Miso Film Norge and Netflix.
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Solum, O. (2010), ‘The municipal cinema system in Norway and the digital turn’, Journal of Scandinavian Cinema, 1:1, pp. 31–36.
     [Google Scholar]
  58. Solum, O. (2016), ‘The rise and fall of Norwegian municipal cinemas’, in M. Hjort and U. Lindqvist (eds), A Companion to Nordic Cinema, Chichester and Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 179–98.
     [Google Scholar]
  59. Svendsen, Stig (2022), Vikingulven, Norway: Filmkameratene and SF Studios.
     [Google Scholar]
  60. Uthaug, Roar (2022), Troll, Norway: Motion Blur and Netflix.
     [Google Scholar]
  61. Wasko, J. (2003), How Hollywood Works, Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1386/jdmp_00133_1
Loading
More local, more risky, more studio-like: How Norwegian film distributors adapted their strategies to the streaming age
Journal of Digital Media & Policy 14, 339 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1386/jdmp_00133_1
/content/journals/10.1386/jdmp_00133_1
/content/journals/10.1386/jdmp_00133_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): commodification; cultural industries; digitalization; film industry; film policy; film production; globalization; subscription video-on-demand (SVoD)

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test