The Swedish television program ”Efter fem” (After Five), a daily news and current affairs show broadcast on TV4, will cease its Sunday broadcasts after December 22nd, 2024. This decision, according to TV4 program director Viveka Hansson, is a strategic move to optimize resources and focus on maximizing impact. While the Sunday edition hasn’t experienced a decline in traditional linear viewership, it has struggled to gain traction with online streaming audiences, particularly during the competitive Sunday evening time slot. Hansson explained that the cost of producing a Sunday program is high, and the return on investment is significantly better during weekdays. The show, which has aired every weekday since 2019 and expanded to Sundays in January 2023, will now revert to its weekday-only schedule.
The shift in programming strategy reflects a broader trend in media consumption, where streaming services are increasingly vying for audience attention, especially on weekends. Sunday evenings, in particular, present a challenge for broadcasters as viewers often have diverse entertainment options and established routines. Despite being a ”fine program,” as Hansson acknowledged, ”Efter fem” faced stiff competition in the digital realm on Sundays, making it difficult to attract a substantial online viewership after 5 PM. This difficulty in capturing the digital audience on Sundays likely played a key role in the decision to discontinue the weekend broadcasts. The resources allocated to the Sunday show can now be redirected to bolster weekday programming and digital content creation, potentially improving overall performance and reaching a wider audience.
TV4’s strategic reallocation of resources doesn’t appear to involve job losses. The broadcaster plans to launch ”Nyhetsdagen” (News Day), a new live, all-day news program airing on weekdays. This initiative will require additional staff, effectively absorbing the personnel involved in the ”Efter fem” Sunday production. This suggests that TV4 is prioritizing live news coverage and expanding its weekday offerings, capitalizing on the consistent demand for daily news updates. The move signals a commitment to strengthening core weekday programming while adapting to evolving audience habits and digital consumption patterns.
The cancellation of ”Efter fem” on Sundays leaves a gap in TV4’s weekend schedule. While the network hasn’t announced a replacement program yet, several possibilities exist. They could introduce a new weekend-specific news and current affairs program, potentially with a different format or focus to better attract the Sunday evening audience. Another option would be to fill the slot with acquired programming, such as documentaries or entertainment shows, to maintain viewership during the weekend. TV4 may also choose to extend existing weekend programs or introduce reruns of popular weekday shows, providing viewers with familiar content and minimizing production costs.
The decision to discontinue ”Efter fem” on Sundays underscores the dynamic nature of the television industry and the evolving consumption habits of audiences. Traditional linear television faces increasing competition from streaming platforms and on-demand services, requiring broadcasters to adapt their strategies and programming schedules. TV4’s move reflects a focus on maximizing resources, prioritizing digital audience engagement, and investing in live news coverage during the week, where they see greater potential for growth and impact. The network’s future weekend programming decisions will likely reflect this overall strategy, aiming to attract and retain viewers in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
While the specific replacement for ”Efter fem” remains unknown, TV4’s ongoing commitment to news programming and its investment in ”Nyhetsdagen” indicates a strategic direction towards strengthening its weekday presence and expanding its live news coverage capabilities. This move aligns with the broader industry trend of emphasizing live and breaking news, particularly in the face of evolving news cycles and the immediacy of online information dissemination. The network’s decision to reallocate resources from the less successful Sunday broadcast of ”Efter fem” to bolster weekday programming and digital content creation suggests a proactive approach to adapting to the changing media landscape and maximizing audience engagement across various platforms.
