Click here to watch the earnings call with CEO Jonas Tellander and CFO Sofie Zettergren
As of the first quarter 2018 some changes have been made in the reporting structure. Storytel’s financial reports will only be published in English, Storytel’s corporate language and an excel-sheet will be published containing historical financial data to better support our investors and shareholders. For the full quarterly report, see pdf attached.
Highlights from Q1 2018
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Subscriber base up 51% Y/Y to 577 900, on track to reach 800 000 in 2018
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Streaming sales up 43% Y/Y to 222 MSEK, on track to reach 1 000 MSEK in 2018
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International streaming sales now 45%, on track to surpass 50% in 2018
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Storytel launched in Iceland during Q1 and after end of quarter in UAE and Turkey
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E-book reading device (Storytel Reader) to be launched before summer
“The year has started great, Storytel is on track to meet all its 2018 goals, subscriber count, streaming revenues, international sales and new market launches”, says Storytel’s CEO Jonas Tellander
Today Storytel sent out a separate press release announcing the release of a dedicated e-book device, Storytel Reader:
“The launch of Storytel Reader makes me super-excited. The combination of the Storytel subscription and the Reader is truly addictive. I personally love reading on it and look forward to seeing it in the hands of many vacation-goers this summer ” says Storytel’s CEO Jonas Tellander.
Key numbers for Streaming and Print Publishing
| Currency: thousand SEK | Q1 2017 | Q2 2017 | Q3 2017 | Q4 2017 | Q1 2018 | Q2 2018 |
| Streaming Total | Forecast 1 | |||||
| Revenue | 155 660 | 167 008 | 197 881 | 209 225 | 222 133 | 236 000 |
| Contribution Profit 2 | 32 133 | 27 847 | 27 784 | 30 277 | 24 079 | |
| Contribution Margin | 20,6% | 16,7% | 14,0% | 14,5% | 10,8% | |
| Paying Subscribers | 381 200 | 423 200 | 503 900 | 533 400 | 577 900 | 620 000 |
| ARPU (SEK/Month) 3 | 136 | 132 | 131 | 131 | 128 | 127 |
| Streaming Sweden | ||||||
| Revenue | 96 177 | 101 365 | 113 709 | 118 038 | 122 046 | 125 000 |
| Contribution Profit | 32 678 | 31 257 | 32 872 | 38 501 | 43 067 | |
| Contribution Margin | 34,0% | 30,8% | 28,9% | 32,6% | 35,3% | |
| Paying Subscribers | 241 400 | 255 800 | 282 300 | 292 700 | 305 100 | 314 000 |
| ARPU (SEK/Month) | 133 | 132 | 134 | 134 | 133 | 133 |
| Streaming International 4 | ||||||
| Revenue | 59 483 | 65 643 | 84 172 | 91 187 | 100 087 | 111 000 |
| Contribution Profit | -545 | -3 410 | -5 088 | ?8 224 | -18 988 | |
| Contribution Margin | -0,9% | -5,2% | -6,0% | ?9,0% | -19,0% | |
| Paying Subscribers | 139 800 | 167 400 | 221 600 | 240 700 | 272 800 | 306 000 |
| ARPU (SEK/Month) | 142 | 131 | 127 | 126 | 122 | 121 |
| Print Publishing 5 | ||||||
| Revenue | 104 137 | 111 969 | 132 619 | 173 832 | 106 312 | |
| Contribution Profit 6 | 37 543 | 37 840 | 47 905 | 66 854 | 39 223 | |
| Contribution Margin | 36,1% | 33,8% | 36,1% | 38,5% | 36,9% |
1 Forecast is an approximation based on information available at time of reporting.
2 Contribution Profit is defined as streaming revenue minus costs for content (licensed content and in-house productions) and marketing.
3 ARPU = Average Revenue Per User (Subscriber) per month
4 Storytel Norway included in figures @ 100%. In the consolidated group accounts Norway is reported according to the principle of proportional consolidation.
5 Print Publishing refers to physical books. People’s Press is included in the group from Q2, 2017 –– in this table it is included in each quarter, in an attempt to show comparisons. In Group Accounts all acquisitions are included from the acquisition date. Internal transactions have been redacted. Barnens bokklubb not included in table.
6 Contribution Profit is defined as revenue minus cost per sold unit, distribution costs, and sales and marketing costs.
The interim report for January – June will be released on August 15, 2018
This information is such information that Storytel AB (publ) is obliged to make public in accordance with EU:s market regulation (marknadsmissbruksförordning). The information was made public by above contact person on May 15th, 2018, 8.30 CET.
For more information, please contact:
Jonas Tellander, CEO: +46 70 261 61 36
Sofie Zettergren, CFO: +46 70 509 98 08
About Storytel
The Storytel Group consists of two parts, Streaming and Print Publishing. The Streaming business area offers subscriptions for audio books and eBooks under the Storytel and Mofibo brands, currently in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, India, the UAE and Turkey. It also includes audio book publishing which is mainly under the imprint Storyside. The audio book publishing business also includes brands such as Storytel Originals, Storytel Dox and Storytel Brief. The Print Publishing business area is carried out through the Swedish publishing houses Norstedts, Storytel Publishing, and the Danish publisher People’s Press and includes the children’s literature and young adult brands Rabén & Sjögren and B.Wahlströms as well as Norstedts Kartor.