MTG’s Viasat, Canal Digital in New Deal

STOCKHOLM,
February 5: Modern Times Group’s (MTG)
Viasat Broadcasting has inked an agreement with Canal Digital in Sweden to
include the Kanal 5 channel on Viasat’s DTH satellite and IPTV platforms, and
for TV3 to be made available on Canal Digital’s satellite and IPTV platforms.

The channels will be
included in Viasat’s and Canal Digital’s pay-TV offerings from February 13
until the end of 2015. Viasat will offer Kanal 5 in its “Entertainment”
package, which is available as part of its satellite offering in Sweden, for
customers subscribing to at least two interest packages. Kanal 5 will also be
made available to Viasat’s premium IPTV subscribers. Meanwhile, Canal Digital
will offer TV3 in its “Family” package.

Viasat and Canal Digital
have also agreed to extend the distribution of the Viasat channel TV8 on the
Canal Digital platform until the end of 2009.

Hans-Holger
Albrecht, the president and CEO of MTG, commented: “The inclusion of Kanal
5 in our pay-TV package is a major step in the development of our channel
offering. We have now ensured that Viasat subscribers can watch all six major
Swedish TV channels on our platform. The agreement also makes TV3 available to
Canal Digital’s subscribers, which will further increase TV3’s reach and
profile with advertisers.”

Continued Albrecht: “We
have been working towards this swap for several years now and are very happy to
be able finally to exchange the channels. This is not only an important
development for our businesses, but also a milestone for the Swedish television
market, enabling satellite viewers to access the major channels across both
platforms.”

—By
Irene Lew