Julia Stoll
Research expert covering TV and video media
Video streaming in Norway - statistics & facts
Watching video content via streaming services has become more and more popular in Norway within the last decade. To give an example, while the viewing time of live broadcasts decreased by around half an hour between 2019 and 2022, Norwegians generally grew their television streaming time recently. Additionally, the penetration rate of over-the-top video services amounted to 87.1 percent as of June 2023, marking a considerable growth from the figure reported a few years earlier. People have access to various video streaming services, with OTT video advertising outpacing the subscription-based model as the most valuable segment in 2020.
Netflix is by far the most popular SVOD platform in Norway, with 55 percent of households subscribing to the streaming service as of 2022. The on-demand service of HBO recorded the second highest share, followed by Sweden-based Viaplay and Disney’s streaming offer Disney+. In addition to the top three, Amazon Prime Video and TV2 Sumo also increased their subscriber base in the country. With more domestic and international streaming providers entering the competitive SVOD landscape in Norway, the amount of people who do not subscribe is steadily decreasing.
The crowded SVOD market
Worldwide, Norway ranked third in the ranking of countries with the highest penetration rate of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services as of 2023. Furthermore, while 55 percent of the Norwegian population had a subscription in 2018, the share increased to over 80 percent in 2022. Unsurprisingly, younger generations tend to be using SVOD more than their older counterparts, with over 90 percent of nine to 44-year-olds subscribing to video streaming services in 2022, compared to 37 percent of subscribers aged 80 years and older.Netflix is by far the most popular SVOD platform in Norway, with 55 percent of households subscribing to the streaming service as of 2022. The on-demand service of HBO recorded the second highest share, followed by Sweden-based Viaplay and Disney’s streaming offer Disney+. In addition to the top three, Amazon Prime Video and TV2 Sumo also increased their subscriber base in the country. With more domestic and international streaming providers entering the competitive SVOD landscape in Norway, the amount of people who do not subscribe is steadily decreasing.
Ad-supported streaming in Norway
While SVOD has long been holding the highest market share in terms of revenue in Norway, freely available and ad-supported video streaming (AVOD) content has caught up. As of 2023, the penetration rate of free OTT video viewers stood at over 70 percent. AVOD in Norway primarily refers to domestic broadcaster video-on-demand (BVOD) or online TV services, such as NRK online and TV 2 Play, with entertainment and drama being the most popular genres among the population. However, international-based ad-supported platforms like Pluto TV have entered the market lately, showing the significance of this business model and video streaming in general in this region.
