- Prepared for tougher times – Campaign

Today let TV2 chief Olav Sandnes forward-time result for the TV group. Operating profit ended at a total of 719 million and has never TV2 put forward such figures ever. The total growth in profit before tax was 128 percent.

Read more: More than 700 million TV 2 surplus

– It is clear that this is a result I think TV2 should be proud of. It is a result which naturally has some extraordinary items by themselves, but which also reflects very much good work done throughout the year, as the way we solved the Olympics and the World Cup in collaboration with NRK. Not least it reflects a good harvest in 2014. It is also important to explain that we must be prepared for tougher times when media market changes.

Sandnes tarried scarce three months as CEO after he took over by Alf Hildrum in January.

– Is this Alf Hildrum profits?

– Yes, it is clear it is, but it is also TV2 profits and a result of very good work on many levels of the organization.

– Is the list added aloud to you on?

– If you look at the underlying factors, then we have succeeded well with a lot, but we know that like the rest of the media industry, we have tough challenges ahead. Media consumption is changing significantly and the framework conditions change too. Therefore, we must change us. There are changes in periods will cost and periods will provide returns, says Sandnes.

Prepared inflation
Earnings growth is however mainly TV 2 in 2014 entered into a agreement with the employees about the liquidation of the performance scheme. This resulted in a non-recurring 434 million in reduced costs. Sandnes points to several challenges that could undermine future performance.

– There is an extraordinarily high result for TV 2 in connection with extraordinary items. I mentioned the change in media consumption earlier, but we naturally also that the cost of content rights increases significantly. It is something that will create new challenges for us.

– What types of rights has the greatest inflation?

– We are already high cost of sports rights, we have seen that in the foreign market has lifted significantly from already very high levels, but there are also rights in connection with entertainment concepts that naturally follows developments.

Tougher start to the year
– You had a fantastic 2014 viewing purposes. When you look at the figures for 2015 so far, it is with concern?

– It is clear that we had the Olympics in February last year. This year we had not the Olympics, but on the contrary had NRK Championships in biathlon, cross-country and alpine. It is clear that the numbers reflect it and there we were prepared for.

– Do you expect that the shares will take up again quickly?

– How proportions moves over short time I will not comment. But in the long run we have ambitions of a strong main channel and strong support channels.

Full pay-TV dispute
In February broke out full war of words between Sandnes and SBS Discovery CEO Harald Stromme after it became known that TV 2 will buy the Norwegian part of C More, and Stromme asked the Competition Authority to stop the acquisition.

– Our biggest competitor in the commercial TV market, the international giant Discovery Networks, has lonely flag that with all his power to stop the deal. In its attempt this painter Discovery Networks Norwegian representative a picture so black that he can hardly believe it myself, wrote Sandnes in a debattinnleg GOn campaign.

Read more: Tv-tops in pay- tv violation

Now is the tone of the TV 2 boss somewhat milder.

– I think you need to have a much more nuanced input to the discussion. We feel that we compete on a global market where our biggest competitors are global players like Netflix, Discovery and Google, both in terms of turnover and strength. We have probably been a big fish in a small duck pond, but this is not a small duck pond anymore. We are part of a large, global market and then need to be able to compete on what we are strongest on local content, he said.

– rigs for the future
Early in February it was also known that the government offered TV 2 to extend the agreement they have with the state for one year, pending consideration of the White Paper on public broadcasting. Thus, the parties in January 2017 to agree on any new deal.

– Some of the challenge is to figure out how to compensate for the obligations they undertake as a public broadcaster. Previously it was said distribution, in terms of the distribution were scarce, but it is not so anymore, says Sandnes.

– What compensation will have to negotiate about?

– First it carried a white paper on public service broadcasting, which will set the model. If one chooses the existing model, we will have a discussion about the obligations that come and compensation. It is too early to say anything about it now.

– What will characterize 2015 for your part?

– I’ll make sure that we retain momentum in the ongoing incentives TV 2 and that they do not halt as a result of a change of leadership. We rigs TV 2 for the future and make sure we have good muscles to offer TV 2 on all platforms in the future.

Game about technology expertise
Sandnes does not hide that also TV2 must throw themselves into the battle for the best technology minds.

– When media consumption is changing, let TV2 change. We will ensure that we have the skills in the right places. Technology is becoming increasingly important for all media players, and we must ensure that we have good skills and can make good use of it.

– Schibsted employees recently 100 new technologists, how is you all right?

– We are in the middle of a transformation from linear classic tv to lift us in the technological field. We are well on the way, but no media companies will say that they are the goal. We work with this basis.

– Jobs continuously leader model
– Have you started the job with leadership model and how to rig TV 2 internally?

– We are constantly working how we organize ourselves. It is something we work continuously, and not something that should be done in a work session.

– What have you already done?

– I have spent much time putting me into in business and has worked with ongoing processes, including we have acquired C More, and I have spent time in putting forward direction in time.

– When you are ready to introduce a new head model?

– Now add the premise that I shall add new head model. I think rather that we should continuously make changes over time and do what is right over time.

Do not believe in linear growth
– Linear TV fared well last year. Do you think the growth will continue?

– No, I think not. I think it is related to major events, but also changed the measurement method. When we plan ahead, we plan no further growth in linear television. Meanwhile, we are concerned that we offer TV2 universe on multiple surfaces, therefore Sumo an important element and the services we offer through distributors.

– To what extent does the Sumo to the result to TV 2?

– Sumo is an important factor for TV2 strategic because we ensure that the Norwegian audience can consume TV2 content where they are when they want it. That’s what’s important with TV 2 Sumo. Sumo must be seen in context of the entire TV 2 and the way we produce and distribute content. Therefore, one can not put two underscores answer when looking at the profitability of Sumo.