Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has extended its rights partnership with the Premier League in Sweden and Denmark, as well as adding rights in Finland for the first time, while Norwegian commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV2 has also extended its contract with the top division of English football.
MTG has won the exclusive rights to show live coverage of Premier League matches from 2016-17 to 2018-19 in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. MTG has held the rights since 2010 in Sweden and Denmark, but has now added the Finnish market to its portfolio.
The matches will be shown on a combination of MTG’s Viasat and other television channels, as well as the Viaplay online streaming service.
Richard Scudamore, Premier League executive chairman, said: “We are extremely pleased that MTG has invested in our rights not only in Sweden and Denmark, but in Finland as well. They have done a fantastic job broadcasting the Barclays Premier League in the past, and will continue to do so through 2018-19. These markets are incredibly important to the Premier League, with their long-established and knowledgeable fan bases.”
TV2 has held Premier League rights since 2010 and will continue to broadcast the competition in Norway across the same three-year term as MTG. TV2 has retained the rights amid reported interest in the contract from US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications.
Editor in chief of TV2, Olav T. Sandnes, said: “TV2 is the natural home of the Premier League. We will continue to invest heavily in the Premier League in the coming years, and will give our football fans the ultimate access to this very popular content via TV2 Premium and TV2 Sumo.”