Norgesfilm will acquire the Swedish library streaming service Viddla from 30.04.2024. With the acquisition, we strengthen our position as a leading player in streaming services in the Nordic region. We look forward to further developing Viddla for the best for Swedish libraries and their patrons.
Background
Norgesfilm owns and operates several Norwegian streaming services, and has been responsible for the technical development and delivery of a number of streaming service platforms in the Nordic region. This makes us well equipped both technically and editorially to take over ownership of Viddla.
– Throughout Viddla's lifetime, Norgesfilm has been responsible for the technical operation of the service in close and good cooperation with BTJ. We are now very pleased about the opportunity to further develop the service, both technically and in terms of content. We also look forward to building on all the good relationships with libraries and patrons that Viddla has in the Swedish library market. With our long experience and expertise in delivering similar library streaming services in both Norway, Denmark and Finland, we are motivated and well equipped to tackle the exciting tasks that lie ahead of us with the Viddla takeover, says Anders Koppang-Grønn, CEO of Norgesfilm.
Norgesfilm is acquiring Viddla from the Swedish company BTJ, which has provided services to libraries in Sweden for over 80 years. BTJ is convinced that Norgesfilm has the very best conditions to succeed with Viddla.
- It is our belief that this will be the best for both Viddla and our cooperating distributors as well as the service's affiliated libraries and their film-interested borrowers. Norgesfilm is a major player in film services in the Nordics with the best conditions to support Viddla, says Anette Grönroos, CEO (CEO) of BTJ.
About Viddla
Viddla makes it very easy for Swedish residents to borrow and watch films digitally with their library card, anywhere and anytime, and without having to visit the library. At Viddla, you can choose from over 2,000 Swedish, Nordic, European and international quality titles that appeal to children, young people, families, adults and seniors. The range is between classics, filmed books, big Oscar winners to narrower films in the arthouse/independent category.
The service is not a competitor, but a supplement to the large, international commercial streaming players and offers hand-picked quality films that are not always easy to obtain elsewhere. Since the service is an offer to Swedish patrons on the same level as books, newspapers, e-audiobooks and other media, it also costs nothing for patrons. The model thus helps to reduce economic differences and exclusion. At the same time, Viddla helps libraries strengthen their position and become more relevant and attractive to their residents by making them even more accessible where patrons often are – on the digital surfaces.
In Norway, there is a similar service to Viddla, Filmoteket.no. The Filmoteket is also run by Norgesfilm and is available through libraries throughout the country.
Contact Norgesfilm
Anders Koppang-Green
Managing Director / CEO
Mobile: +47 91 56 03 49
Email: anders@norgesfilm.no