MTG's Viasat Secures Broadcasting Rights to Barclays Premier League in Baltics

Strategic Insights -

Swedish media company Modern Times Group AB has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights to the Barclays Premier League in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania for the next three seasons. The deal, acquired by MTG's unit Viasat Broadcasting, will make the sports event available on the Viasat Sport Baltic pay-TV channel and a new Viasat Premier League high definition (HD) channel, set to launch on a satellite platform in the Baltics. MTG will offer both local language and English commentary, as well as a range of related programming, including highlights, profiles, interviews, and analyses.

Key Takeaways:

  • MTG's Viasat Broadcasting acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights to the Barclays Premier League in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania for the next three seasons.
  • The deal will make the sports event available on the Viasat Sport Baltic pay-TV channel and a new Viasat Premier League high definition (HD) channel.
  • The channels will offer both local language and English commentary, as well as a range of related programming, including highlights, profiles, interviews, and analyses.
  • MTG will launch the new Viasat Premier League HD channel on a satellite platform in the Baltics on 13 August 2010.
  • MTG's CEO, Hans-Holger Albrecht, stated that the company currently has exclusive broadcasting rights to the Barclays Premier League in Sweden and Bulgaria, and offers the sports event in seven countries in Scandinavia, central, and eastern Europe.
  • The value of the deal was not disclosed.

Statistics:

  • 3 seasons: The duration of the broadcasting rights deal.
  • 14 August 2010: The start date of the 2010/11 season, which marks the beginning of MTG's broadcasting rights.
  • 13 August 2010: The date on which the new Viasat Premier League HD channel is set to launch.
  • 2012/13: The end date of the broadcasting rights deal.
  • 7 countries: The number of countries in Scandinavia, central, and eastern Europe where MTG offers the Barclays Premier League on both pay-TV and free-TV channels.

Sources:

  • M2 EQUITYBITES-9 August 2010-MTG's Viasat secures broadcasting rights to Barclays Premier League in Baltics(C)2010 M2 COMMUNICATIONS http://www.m2.com 9 August 2010