FICORA's postal and media market reviews: Internet viewing on the rise, very low competition in the delivery of letters, newspapers and magazines

The Finns estimate that they have watched less live television over the past year although watching live television still forms the largest share of their overall watching of television programmes. This is especially relevant in the age group of 15-19 years, but also 20-44-year-olds experience that they have watched less live television.

Especially the young watch increasingly more television programmes and videos on the internet. Also, more often than other age groups, the young estimate that they will increase internet viewing over the next 12 months.

The most common barriers to internet viewing are the difficulty of searching for programmes, a screen that makes watching difficult, or the poor quality of voice, and poor location of computer with view to watching. Also, the young are more disturbed about the low connection speed than other age groups.

Very low competition in letter, magazine and newspaper delivery

In Finland, competition over addressed letter, newspaper and magazine items is still very low compared to other Nordic countries or many central EU countries, such as Germany and Great Britain.

In continental Finland, Itella Oyj practically has monopolistic status in letter and magazine delivery. Itella's market share of newspaper delivery is also very high, the alternatives for Itella being the newspapers' own distribution organisations.

Competition in the delivery of parcels and unaddressed mail is relatively efficient and there are numerous alternative providers in the market. However, Itella's market share of these postal items is approximately 50-60%. The markets can still be regarded as concentrated, but there is room for more efficient competition.

FICORA's market reviews

FICORA's market reviews 4a/2010 and 4b/2010 examine the competitive situation in and market entry into the Finnish postal market, as well as consumption and supply of audiovisual content services.

Market review 4a/2010 on the postal service market in Finnish [PDF, 524 KB]

Market review 4b/2010 on the audiovisual media market in Finnish [PDF, 375 KB] and related results of the survey on audiovisual content services in Finnish [PDF, 1 MB].

The English versions of the market reviews will be published later.

Further information:

Tiina Aaltonen, Development Manager (media market), tel. +358 9 6966 430, +358 40 777 4082
Jukka-Pekka Juutinen, Communications Market Specialist (postal market), tel. +358 9 6966 433, +358 40 359 1091