ABC News and Startsiden Complete Platform Merger
The merger into Labrador CMS enhances readership and streamlines operations for Norway's leading digital news sites.
ABC Nyheter and ABC Startsiden launched their merged platform Wednesday, migrating content from two separate content management systems to Labrador CMS.
The merger combines ABC Nyheter, established in 2007, with ABC Startsiden, Norway's web portal founded in 1996. Editor David Stenerud said the combined site will reach readership levels "almost as large as Aftenposten."
Technical Migration
The project required migrating content from two different legacy CMS platforms into a single system. ABC Startsiden AS selected Labrador CMS to reduce manual publishing operations and streamline workflows.
"A modern CMS was a prerequisite for realizing the major plans," said Trygve Sørvaag, Director of Product and Business Development at ABC Startsiden AS.
Startsiden.no will continue operating as before but becomes a subsection under ABC Nyheter. Editorial resources shift to the newspaper operation.
Editorial Expansion
ABC Nyheter now operates expanded newsroom departments: news, debate, and lifestyle sections. The publication targets a younger demographic than Startsiden's traditional audience.
Stenerud said the merger enables "broader subject areas and deeper journalism than what we have had until now."
The company plans to launch paid subscriptions in 2026, maintaining its current timeline despite the platform change.
Market Context
Startsiden ranks among Norway's most-visited websites. ABC Nyheter recovered from staff cuts in 2020 and has grown readership in recent months.
Norway maintains 99% internet penetration with 5.55 million users, according to 2025 data. The country shows high willingness to pay for news content compared to other markets.
Platform Capabilities
The CEO of Labrador CMS Jan Thoresen said the new design "provides a more elegant and depth-focused reading experience, inspired by the best European digital news publications."
The platform supports multiple revenue streams while maintaining editorial workflows. The system handles both portal aggregation and newspaper publishing functions.
Company Background
ABC Startsiden AS is owned by Hegnar Media that also operates the financial newspaper Finansavisen and finance magazine Kapital.
The Wednesday launch completes a project that combined legacy content from both platforms under unified technical infrastructure.
