Norwegian libraries will offer free film streaming to loan customers. The Filmoteket service will be launched in April – with a TONO agreement.
/ 01/04/2020 / Kristian DugstadSeveral Norwegian libraries will offer free feature films to their loan customers. The libraries' own streaming service, Filmoteket, has been developed by Norgesfilm and will be launched in April.
The service is free for borrowers, but the library charges 25 kroner per loan. Part of the money goes back to the film's rights holders – including through TONO, which manages the rights of film composers.
– This is a brilliant offer from the libraries. Free films for library users and reasonable remuneration for rights holders at home and abroad – it is a win-win situation. We are very pleased with our good and long-term collaboration with Norgesfilm, says Inger Elise Mey, Director of Online Media at TONO.
TONO and Norgesfilm have worked closely for many years and have agreements regarding a number of services. Good reporting procedures have been established that ensure that TONO receives compensation back to the film composers.
– Norgesfilm has worked on the development and delivery of streaming services and digital film distribution for 20 years towards both the education sector, the library industry, the professional film industry, media houses, healthcare and the cultural industry, and we have always had a good collaboration with TONO. This now continues with another streaming service where this time we will go home to the living room – or wherever the user may be, and where only the library card and internet access are needed to get a really good film experience, completely freely available, says Anders Koppang-Grønn, CEO of Norgesfilm.
A large number of Norwegian libraries have ordered the Filmoteket, which will be available during April. You can read if your library is part of the scheme on Norgesfilm's website.
When the service is launched, it will contain approximately 200 Norwegian and international feature films for children and adults.
– For many years, we have delivered similar services on behalf of Norgesfilm's customers in our neighboring countries Denmark, Sweden and Finland. This has been an unconditional success. Now it is the turn of Norwegian libraries to finally be able to offer all users an attractive streaming service with popular national and international films of the highest quality and thus become even more relevant to their broad audience of all ages, says Koppang-Grønn.