Sumo online in Norway
Valuable Disney agreements and world-leading HD technology made 2009 a successful year for Sumo, TV 2’s web and IPTV service.
When TV 2 in Norway launched its video stream in 1997, many people viewed the idea of selling web TV subscriptions, to earn money, with scepticism. But by 2004 Sumo’s subscription sales had already earned NOK 10 million in revenue, and the number of subscribers has risen steadily since.
As a web TV forerunner in a somewhat uncharted territory, TV 2, among other things, had to develop the technical platform themselves.
“In 2000 multiplatform TV solutions weren’t something you could buy over the counter. We developed the software ourselves, and have since turned this into a niche production. TV 4 in Sweden was the first company to buy our software, with MTV3 in Finland following suit. We are still getting enquiries from other TV stations wishing to copy our success,” says Helge Høibraaten, manager of TV 2 Sumo.
One of the world’s first HD web TV stations
In June 2009 TV 2 Sumo was one of the first TV stations in the world to launch live High Definition web TV, based on an agreement made with Microsoft in 2008.
“We had the opportunity to transmit live HD television in June. This was possible, thanks to a brand-new technology Microsoft prioritised to introduce to the market in joint venture with TV 2 Sumo,” explains Høibraaten. Hospital drama att racted most viewers
Hospital drama attracted most viewers
Acquiring web rights to foreign series has been a challenge for Sumo, but things fell into place in the autumn of 2009, when Sumo achieved the rights to transmit a number of Disney series, such as Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Private Practice.
“We are thrilled to have the chance to broadcast these series, and have access to them both before and after they’ve been transmitted on TV. Grey’s Anatomy has been a particular success on the web. The hospital drama won us several new subscribers during the first weeks of transmission,” says Høibraaten.
New year - new opportunities
“We are now concentrating on improving the quality of the TV image and the user experience. We want to offer more sports content, more series and more high-end content. We also want to work on and with new gadgets. We already have a mobile presence and IPTV offerings. Now we want to expand with the new television sets that can be connected directly to the internet. The uniqueness of Sumo is that we’ve built up the service in a cross-disciplinary environment up front,” Høibraaten finishes.
As a web TV forerunner in a somewhat uncharted territory, TV 2, among other things, had to develop the technical platform themselves.
“In 2000 multiplatform TV solutions weren’t something you could buy over the counter. We developed the software ourselves, and have since turned this into a niche production. TV 4 in Sweden was the first company to buy our software, with MTV3 in Finland following suit. We are still getting enquiries from other TV stations wishing to copy our success,” says Helge Høibraaten, manager of TV 2 Sumo.
One of the world’s first HD web TV stations
In June 2009 TV 2 Sumo was one of the first TV stations in the world to launch live High Definition web TV, based on an agreement made with Microsoft in 2008.
“We had the opportunity to transmit live HD television in June. This was possible, thanks to a brand-new technology Microsoft prioritised to introduce to the market in joint venture with TV 2 Sumo,” explains Høibraaten. Hospital drama att racted most viewers
Hospital drama attracted most viewers
Acquiring web rights to foreign series has been a challenge for Sumo, but things fell into place in the autumn of 2009, when Sumo achieved the rights to transmit a number of Disney series, such as Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Private Practice.
“We are thrilled to have the chance to broadcast these series, and have access to them both before and after they’ve been transmitted on TV. Grey’s Anatomy has been a particular success on the web. The hospital drama won us several new subscribers during the first weeks of transmission,” says Høibraaten.
New year - new opportunities
“We are now concentrating on improving the quality of the TV image and the user experience. We want to offer more sports content, more series and more high-end content. We also want to work on and with new gadgets. We already have a mobile presence and IPTV offerings. Now we want to expand with the new television sets that can be connected directly to the internet. The uniqueness of Sumo is that we’ve built up the service in a cross-disciplinary environment up front,” Høibraaten finishes.
March 2010
Gallery
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In June 2009 TV 2 Sumo was one of the first TV stations in the world to launch live High Definition web TV, based on an agreement made with Microsoft in 2008.
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At TV 2 Sumo they are constantly working on improving the quality of the TV image and the user experience. We want to offer more sports content, more series and more high-end content.
What is TV 2 Sumo?
TV 2 Sumo is TV 2’s web-TV channel. which transmits all of TV 2’s six channels live, as well as being the sole distributor of TV 2 Science Fiction. Thousands of programmes are offered on-demand
Growth on several platforms
Lately, TV 2 has established itself on several platforms including tv2.no, TV 2 Sumo and TV 2 Mobil. Over the last six months, the TV 2 website has attracted an average of 200,000 unique daily viewers, which makes it one of Norway’s 11 most visited websites.
TV 2 Sumo is TV 2’s web-TV channel. which transmits all of TV 2’s six channels live, as well as being the sole distributor of TV 2 Science Fiction. Thousands of programmes are offered on-demand
Growth on several platforms
Lately, TV 2 has established itself on several platforms including tv2.no, TV 2 Sumo and TV 2 Mobil. Over the last six months, the TV 2 website has attracted an average of 200,000 unique daily viewers, which makes it one of Norway’s 11 most visited websites.
