M7 Group to Bring MTG’s esportsTV into New European Markets

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) and M7 Group have inked an agreement to make ESL’s esportsTV channel available in the Nordics, the Baltics, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The HD channel has now launched on M7 Group’s satellite TV platforms in the Netherlands (Canal Digitaal), Belgium (TV Vlaanderen), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (Skylink), with more platforms to follow. esportsTV debuted in May 2016 as the world’s first 24/7 dedicated eSports channel, and is already available on MTG’s Nordic and Baltic Viasat satellite platforms, and through third-party distributors, including Telenor, Com Hem, Telia and Waoo.

The agreement also includes the possibility for MTG to deliver the channel to other third-party distributors through the same satellite feed, increasing the technical penetration of esportsTV in Europe.

Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, the president and CEO of MTG, said: “eSports is the world’s fastest growing professional sport and is expected to engage more than 250 million people already this year. It is also a hugely popular entertainment format that is pulling in massive online viewing and attracting big stadium audiences around the world, and esportsTV will raise awareness levels even further.”

Bill Wijdeveld, the VP of business development of M7 Group, said: “We are very excited to have an agreement with MTG that allows us to offer esportsTV with content from the largest and most important tournaments around the world. Moreover, the launch of esportsTV fits very well with our strategy to broaden our content portfolio and thereby address new and under-served audiences.”

Arnd Benninghoff, CEO of MTGx, added: “There is so much great content to share and this new partnership with M7 Group will bring the excitement of eSports to even more TV homes and devices. The channel is attracting interest from everywhere and provides viewers with 24/7 access to eSports coverage from around the world.”