Bonnier News: Revenue Up 29% to €101M in 2025 – Digital Subscriptions Key
Bonnier News Reports Strong 2025 Results, Eyes Further Digital Growth
Sweden’s Bonnier News, a leading news provider encompassing titles like Dagens Nyheter, Expressen, and Dagens industri, announced a robust financial performance for 2025. The company posted an EBITA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortization) of SEK 1.08 billion (€101 million), a 29% year-over-year increase, on revenues of SEK 10.9 billion (€1.02 billion), up 3% from the previous year. The results, announced in February, signal a continued successful transformation strategy for the media group, and CEO Erikson expressed optimism for continued growth in 2026.
A Transformation Years in the Making
The positive results represent a significant turnaround for Bonnier News, which began a systematic overhaul in 2016 under the leadership of current CEO Erikson. In 2016, the company’s total revenue stood at SEK 4.7 billion (€418 million). The more than doubling of revenue since then is attributed to a “massive, systematic transformation strategy,” according to reports. This strategy has focused heavily on building digital subscriptions and diversifying revenue streams. The company now employs approximately 6,700 people, including around 2,000 journalists.
Reader Revenue Drives Growth
A key component of Bonnier News’ success is the increasing reliance on reader revenue. The share of total revenue derived from readers has risen from around 57% to 62% over the last three years, even as overall revenue has grown substantially. Approximately half of this reader revenue now comes from purely digital subscriptions, with the remainder coming from a mix of single-copy sales, print subscriptions, and bundled print/digital offerings. The “+Allt” bundled subscription package, which includes access to multiple publications, has nearly 500,000 digital subscribers, contributing significantly to higher subscription volumes and average prices. In total, over 1.1 million subscribers now have access to +Allt, including those who also receive print editions.
Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships
Bonnier News has also pursued a strategy of strategic acquisitions and partnerships to bolster its position in the Nordic media landscape. Recent moves include the acquisition of Zetland, a Danish membership-based news service, late in 2025. While Zetland is currently a minor part of the overall Bonnier News portfolio, Erikson highlighted its innovative audio-based membership model as a potential area for growth and development. The company also established cross-ownership and a partnership with Erna Media, and integrated the digital news service Readly into its operations. These moves demonstrate a commitment to expanding its reach and diversifying its offerings.
Beyond Subscriptions: Diversifying Revenue Streams
While reader revenue is a primary driver of growth, Bonnier News also relies on a diversified portfolio of revenue streams. Approximately 16% of overall revenue comes from sources beyond subscriptions and advertising. This includes revenue from logistics, printing, and distribution (around 6%), events, networking, education, and industry-specific data and information services (around 5%), as well as smaller contributions from other sources and media subsidies (approximately 2% each). This diversification helps to mitigate risk and provides a more stable financial foundation.
The Nordic Subscription Landscape and Future Outlook
Despite concerns about “subscription fatigue” in the Nordic markets, Erikson remains optimistic about the potential for continued growth in digital subscriptions. He believes that 2026 will be an even stronger year for the company, citing continued growth in readership, engagement, and subscription numbers. He also anticipates a potentially stronger advertising market due to improved macroeconomic conditions. Bonnier News’ evolution from print-focused silos to a unified digital powerhouse has been a key factor in its recent success.
Bonnier News’ Broader Structure
Bonnier News’ structure extends beyond its core daily newspapers. The company also includes the former Bonnier Magazines & Brands, now integrated into the Expressen business area. Bonnier News Business focuses on business publications, including Dagens industri in Sweden and a portfolio of business newspapers in Denmark, Poland, and Slovenia, as well as companies specializing in education and professional services. Bonnier Publications, with its magazine operations primarily in Denmark, operates as a separate business area within Bonnier News. The Bonnier News Logistics & Production business area handles distribution and printing through brands like Bold, Bonway, and the e-commerce-driven Morgonexpressen.
Local News Expansion Through Bonnier News Local
Established in 2020, the Bonnier News Local business area has turn into a significant part of the company’s strategy. It currently encompasses around 40 local newspapers, ranging from Helsingborgs Dagblad and Sydsvenskan in southern Sweden to Örnsköldsviks Allehanda in the north. This expansion into local news demonstrates Bonnier News’ commitment to serving a wider range of communities and providing localized content. Expressen, Sydsvenskan, Dagens Nyheter, and Dagens industri are all part of the Bonnier News portfolio.
What’s Next for Bonnier News?
Looking ahead, Bonnier News is likely to continue its focus on digital subscriptions, strategic acquisitions, and revenue diversification. The company will also need to navigate the evolving media landscape, including challenges related to competition from digital platforms, changing consumer habits, and the spread of misinformation. Erikson’s confidence in the company’s continued success suggests that Bonnier News is well-positioned to adapt to these challenges and maintain its position as a leading news provider in the Nordic region. The integration of Zetland and further development of the +Allt subscription package will be key areas to watch in the coming months.