Midtsiden – a small newspaper with sophisticated subscription operations
Midtsiden went from being a pilot project to a role model for local media.
Midtsiden.no, based in Os outside Bergen, faces tough competition – from Os og Fusaposten, Bergens Tidende and BA. Yet the local paper keep on growing. Since becoming Subrite’s first pilot customer in December 2022, its subscription revenue has more than doubled: from NOK 1.5 million in 2022 to over NOK 3.6 million in 2025. Subscription income grew by 21% in 2023, 39% in 2024 – and is on track for more than 40% growth in 2025. In total, the digital newspaper now has a turnover of NOK 6.3 million.
Technology in the hands of the newsroom
When Midtsiden began working with Subrite, they wanted better insight into their readers – not more systems to manage.
With Subrite, everything is gathered in one place: newsletters, SMS, push notifications, CRM and automations, campaigns, group and corporate subscriptions. The newsroom can see who reads, what converts – and which actions actually work.
“We’ve brought the insight directly into the newsroom. It makes testing easy – and guessing unnecessary,” says editor Kjetil Bruarøy.
Testing, learning, adjusting – and reducing churn
Midtsiden continuously experiments with pricing models and campaigns. They use push notifications and newsletters actively to build engagement, frequency and to win back former subscribers.
Automated customer flows remind users if they forget to pay or if their card expires. Subscribers also get friendly prompts to add family members or colleagues – ensuring someone notices if the subscription stops.
Group and corporate subscriptions, where customers add users themselves, make the product more “sticky” – and increase revenue per customer. Churn has been cut by more than half since adopting Subrite, even though the subscriber base has more than doubled.
Simple operations, minimal support
Another major effect went almost unnoticed: customer support disappeared. Where the newsroom once had daily issues with logins and payments, they now receive about five inquiries per month.
Smooth onboarding and intuitive self-service mean users solve things themselves.
Exploring audio and closed formats
Midtsiden is also experimenting with a called , where subscribers access episodes through Subrite. The experience mirrors what United.no achieved with , which you can read more about .