Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ.) (‘MTG’ or ‘the Group’), the international entertainment broadcasting group, today announced that it has entered into a strategic cooperation with the Sanoma Group to launch a localised premium sports channel in Finland.
Nelonen Sport Pro will be launched in February 2010 and will feature content from both Viasat and Sanoma-owned Nelonen Media, including the Finnish SM Liiga, NHL and KHL international ice hockey league; football from UEFA Champions League, English FA Cup and the French Ligue 1; Moto GP, ATP Master Series tennis; as well as Euroleague basketball and coverage of major international golf tournaments.
Sport Pro will be wholly owned by the Sanoma Entertainment and the channel will be available exclusively on Viasat’s Finnish digital satellite pay-TV platform and in Viasat pay- TV packages in cable networks in Finland from launch.
The Viasat satellite TV platform in Finland was launched in 1996. The new sports channel as an addition to Viasat’s 18 own pay-TV channels as well as a wide range of local and international third party channel brands on its Finnish satellite pay-TV platform.
Hans-Holger Albrecht, President & CEO of MTG, commented: “The strategic cooperation with Sanoma is in line with our commitment to provide the very best in local and international sports content to subscribers. The new localised channel will complement our existing Nordic sports offering in Finland, and we are delighted to be able to further enhance the range and depth of sports coverage provided for Finnish viewers“.
***