Viasat Broadcasting is the leading free-TV and pay-TV operator in Scandinavia and the Baltics, and has broadcasting operations in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Russia, Ukraine and Ghana.
Viasat’s free-TV and pay-TV channels, including its flagship TV3 and TV1000 entertainment channels, and pay-TV platforms attract a total of 125 million viewers in 31 countries. Viasat Broadcasting is divided into five business segments, Free-TV Scandinavia, Pay-TV Nordic, Free-TV Emerging Markets, Pay-TV Emerging Markets and CTC Media.
Free-TV Scandinavia
Sweden, Norway and Denmark The launch of TV3 on New Year’s Eve 1987 in Sweden, Denmark and Norway is the origin of what today is the Modern Times Group. TV3 was the first commercial TV channel in Scandinavia – at that time the airwaves were solely for the use of the national public broadcasters. It was the first TV channel that was privately owned and the first to transmit advertising. When TV3 launched, no advertising was allowed on TV channels in Scandinavia. The free-TV operations in each country, along with separate TV3 stations in each country, now comprise TV6, TV8 and ZTV in Sweden, Viasat4 in Norway and TV3+ and TV3 PULS in Denmark.
Pay-TV Nordic
Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland The Viasat satellite TV platform, launched in Scandinavia in 1991, provides viewers with content packages which feature channels from Free-TV Scandinavia, 22 own pay-TV channels and a broad range of local and leading international third party channel brands. The own pay-TV channels comprise the portfolio of thematic TV1000 channels, a number of localised own sports channels, Viasat History, Viasat Explorer, Viasat Nature and Viasat Crime. Also available is ViasatPlus, a service with a recordable digital box which was launched in 2005. In 2008 the ViasatHD service was introduced with TV1000 HD and Viasat Sport HD (TV 2 Sport HD in Denmark) as well as third party HDTV channels.
Free-TV Emerging Markets
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Viasat Broadcasting’s expansion outside Scandinavia commenced in 1993 with the acquisition of a terrestrial TV channel in Estonia. TV3 launched in Estonia in 1996, in Lithuania in 1997 and in Latvia in 1998. Since then the channel 3+, targeting the Russian speaking population, has been added in Estonia and Latvia. During 2007 and 2008 TV6 was introduced to all three markets.
The Czech Republic MTG holds a 50% stake in the second largest free-TV broadcaster in the Czech Republic – TV Prima – and launched Prima COOL on 1 April 2009.
Bulgaria In 2008 MTG acquired 100% of Nova Televizia Bulgaria, owner of Nova, the second most watched TV channel in the country. On 3 March 2009 MTG announced a reorganisation of the ownership of its free-TV assets in Bulgaria. Following the receipt of approval from the Bulgarian Commission for the Protection of Competition MTG announced on 6 August 2009 that it had completed the reorganisation. The assets within Balkan Media Group had been transferred into the MTG subsidiary Nova Televizia. MTG acquired 50% of Balkan Media Group on 20 March 2007 from Apace Media plc. BMG owned the Diema channels and MM in Bulgaria. MTG now owns 95% of the enlarged Nova Televizia group, whilst Apace Media holds a 5% minority interest in the combined entity comprising Nova, Diema, Diema Family and Diema2 in Bulgaria.
Hungary MTG owns 95% of Viasat3, which is the number three commercial channel in Hungary. TV6 was launched in 2008.
Slovenia MTG owns TV3, the third largest free-TV broadcaster in Slovenia.
Ghana On 12 December 2008 Viasat1 was launched in Ghana in West Africa. It was Viasat Broadcasting’s first free-TV channel outside Europe.
Pay-TV Emerging Markets
Comprises the satellite TV platforms in the Baltic states and Ukraine and also the 11 pay-TV channels distributed via third party networks in 24 countries in Central & Eastern Europe, as well as in the United States.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania The Viasat satellite platform, originally launched in Scandinavia in 1991, was introduced in the Baltic states in 2004. The line-up of Viasat’s own pay-TV channels – TV1000 East, TV1000 Russian Kino, TV1000 Action East, Viasat History and Viasat Explorer – was enhanced with localised premium channels such as TV1000 Premium in 2008 and Viasat Sport Baltic in 2009. The pan-Nordic Viasat Golf channel also became available in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2009. Viasat Hockey replaced Viasat Sport East in 2010. Viasat Nature was added in 2010. These ten own branded channels, as well as a broad range of leading international third party channel brands, has made Viasat a leading digital TV provider in all the Baltic states.
Ukraine The satellite TV platform Viasat Ukraine was launched in April 2008, as a joint venture with Strong Media Group, becoming the first licensed digital premium satellite operator in the country. Viasat Ukraine offers a wide range of Ukrainian, Russian and international third party channels, as well as Viasat’s six own branded pay-TV channels in the region. In February 2010 MTG announced it had signed an agreement to acquire a further 35% of Viastrong Holding AB from Strong Media Group. MTG currently owns 50% of Viastrong which, through Vision TV LCC, operates Viasat Ukraine. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities, and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2010.
Russia, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan The countries within the CIS have a broad range of Viasat pay-TV channels available: TV1000 East, TV1000 Russian Kino, TV1000 Action East, Viasat Sport East, Viasat History, Viasat Explorer and Viasat Nature. Is 50% owner of Russian satellite TV platform Raduga TV.
Poland TV1000 Poland was the first single country version of the premium movie brand TV1000. Also available are Viasat History, Viasat Explorer and Viasat Nature.
The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary Viasat Explorer, Viasat History and Viasat Nature are the three channels available in those countries.
Bulgaria, Macedonia, Slovenia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina The Balkan region has its own version of the premium movie brand TV1000. Also available are Viasat History, Viasat Explorer and Viasat Nature. Bulgaria also has Nova Sport.
United States Since 2008, TV1000 Russian Kino has been distributed to Russian speakers in the United States. Since 2009, also CTC has been distributed to Russian speakers in the United States.
CTC Media
Russia The Group is the largest shareholder in Russia’s biggest independent TV broadcaster, CTC Media, of which it owns 38.9%. CTC Media comprises three Russian TV networks, CTC, Domashny and DTV. CTC Media acquired DTV on 16 April 2008. DTV was previously owned directly by MTG since 2001.