Viasat in New Licensing Deal with NBCU

STOCKHOLM: Viasat Broadcasting has scooped up the free-TV rights for Sweden, Norway and Denmark to a slate of feature films and TV series from NBC Universal International Television Distribution, including the new shows Trauma and Mercy.

The multi-year licensing deal covers feature films like Michael Mann’s Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds and Judd Apatow’s Funny People, as well as library titles like the Bourne franchise and a slew of others. On the TV side, Viasat has scored the new medical drama Mercy, which portrays the lives of the staff at a hospital, as seen through the eyes of the nurses, and Trauma, about first responder paramedics. There are also reality series included in the deal with The Fashion Show and Top Chef Masters. The content will be available on TV3, TV6, TV8 and ZTV in Sweden; TV3, TV3+ and TV3 PULS in Denmark; and TV3 and Viasat4 in Norway.

Alexander Holland, the chief of staff at Viasat, commented, “NBC Universal has an impressive track record of creating massively popular movies and TV series which will further strengthen our programming schedule. Viasat’s TV channels are the home of entertainment and this deal entitles our viewers to unlimited access to recent big screen releases, established classic feature films and the latest high rating TV series."