Nova Broadcasting Group Bulgaria, towards online video production and distribution

Didier Stoessel, CEO, Nova (Bulgaria) describes to Prensario the good performance of the television corporation, and he continues: ‘Our good performance in terms of audience’s growth also enabled us to grow our Bulgarian revenues approximately 20% in 2015. We were able to maintain this growth into Q1 2016’.

‘Having taken away the leadership of bTV (CME) in the autumn of 2014, we were able to maintain our top position throughout 2015 and have continued to dominate in Q1 2016. We increased our share in the commercial demo, active population audience (TG 18-49) by 23% in Q1 2016 vs. same period last year, while bTV posted a 5% decline over the same period’.

On a group level, NBG (Nova + niche channels Diema, Diema Family, Kino Nova, Nova Sport) growth is 14%, while the second media group BMG (bTV + niche channels bTV Action, bTV Cinema, bTV Comedy, bTV Lady, Ring) posted a 1% decrease year-to-date. ‘Since 2014, MTG (NBG + Fox, Fox Crime, Fox Life) has been the undisputed market leader ahead of CME (BMG + Fiesta, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon). MTG increased by 12% its audience share in commercial demo (18-49) in Q1 2016 vs. same period last year’. 

Stoessel adds: ‘Our digital business has been developing with a very fast pace, too. We currently reach over 80% of Bulgarian Internet users, allowing advertisers to get to over 1.5 million real users in just 24 hours. There is no other Bulgarian digital company that can offer this’.

‘Our online business is so huge that we are constantly working on numerous large-scale projects – whether they have to do with improving our existing websites and platforms, developing mobile versions and apps, or creating brand new products. 10 months ago, we set up 7Talents, Bulgaria’s first online video production and distribution business, which now employs about 30 people. The team not only produces digital content, but also manages talents to make sure they get the largest possible distribution and monetization of their products. Currently, 7Talents manages over 550 Vbox7.com and YouTube channels’.

Own productions are the backbone of Nova’s schedule: ‘Starting with our news and current affairs programs, reaching big prime time formats such as Big Brother, X Factor, Your Face Sounds Familiar, etc. Other landmark shows in our portfolio include Deal or Not Deal and Family Feud in prime access, as well as Sofia Day and Night in the late prime. Still, acquired content has its place on Nova, comprising mainly of blockbuster movies and selected top US series such as The Blacklist and Hawaii-Five-0. In daytime, similar to other countries in the region, we are very successful with Turkish and Indian series’, he adds.

Bulgaria’s first web teen series, Don’t Do That, Bro, produced by 7Talents, has been performing well, with each episode attracting multiple and loyal audience. ‘For a little over a month, the videos related to this series have generated over 2 million views, while the web series episodes uploaded on Bulgaria’s biggest web series, Vbox7.com, have been watched by over 1 million users’, he says.

‘Reality and entertainment is what our main channel Nova has been traditionally associated with and we have great success stories in those genres. This spring we launched the first original medical Bulgarian drama series, Stolen Life, which proved to be very successful. Therefore, we are constantly looking to add new genres to our portfolio and further improve the viewing experience we offer’.

Stoessel concludes: ‘Just several months ago, NetInfo acquired 51% of Grabo.bg, Bulgaria’s biggest daily deal site, as well as 51% of Trendo.bg, a leading fashion online store. As part of the deal, NetInfo also acquired a majority stake in Opoznai.bg, Bulgaria’s biggest tourist locations catalogue, which is part of Grabo.bg. Our penetration into market places and price competition is part of our long-term strategy to grow and diversify our online business’.