Viasat Signs Extended Pacts with Four Content Providers

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group has secured new licensing agreements with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, Nordisk Film and SF Film for Viasat Broadcasting.

Viasat signed two separate deals with NBCU. The first is for the exclusive free-TV rights in Sweden, Norway and Denmark to a range of current and library films and TV shows. The second is for the exclusive pay-TV and subscription VOD rights in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland for current and library feature films.

The multi-year pact with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution provides Viasat with access to the second pay-TV window for the studio’s film content. It also includes the catch-up rights to linear broadcasts on the Viasat Film thematic premium pay-TV channels in the Nordic region.

Viasat scored the exclusive pay-TV rights for Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland that covers Nordic feature films produced and co-produced by SF Film. Included are the exclusive online and mobile rights as well. The pact also calls for the local first-run feature titles and library films to be shown on the premium pay-TV Viasat Film channels.

Nordisk Film awarded Viasat with exclusive first-run and library-title movies for pay TV in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. MTG also scooped up the exclusive free-TV rights for first-run and library-movie titles in Sweden and library titles in Denmark. In Sweden, the exclusive free-TV rights are for both first-run and library titles while in Denmark the free-TV rights are for library only.

Hans-Holger Albrecht, the president and CEO of MTG, commented: “The signing of the agreements further solidifies our position as the leading premium content provider in the Nordic region, both via traditional linear pay-TV channels and on-demand. Viasat Broadcasting has licensing agreements with six major content providers, which enables Viasat and Viaplay to offer a unique breadth of exclusive premium content and a wide range of popular library titles. The unrivalled range of movies and TV series, as well as the wide range of library content will ensure that we will continue to strengthen our position as the home of entertainment, both offline and online.”