Nordics

Modern Times Group has opted for ATP World Tour rights instead of extending its coverage of the Women’s Tennis Association Tour, TV Sports Markets understands.

The Commercial Sports Media agency is confident it can grow the value of SM-Liiga domestic media rights despite a tricky local market. CSM was last week appointed as the top-tier Finnish ice hockey league’s adviser.

Multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster Modern Times Group has acquired exclusive rights in the Nordic region to the 2020 European Handball Championships.

SM-Liiga, the top division of ice hockey in Finland, has appointed the Commercial Sports Media agency to aid its upcoming media rights sales process.

UK commercial broadcaster Channel 4 outbid public-service broadcaster the BBC for rights to the women’s European Championship in 2017.

Swedish public-service broadcaster SVT has acquired rights for the Ski Classics long-distance skiing championship.

Michael Lang has been promoted by media company Discovery Networks International to the role of president of international development, digital and Discovery Nordics.

Media company CSI Sports has agreed a deal with Nordic pay-television operator DNA to carry its Fight Sports pay-television channel in Finland.

Finnish telecommunications company Elisa has acquired rights for Liga ACB, the top division of basketball in Spain.

The Infront Sports & Media agency has extended its media and marketing partnership with the Finnish Ski Association until the 2025-26 season, while public-service broadcaster YLE has sealed a five-season extension to its deal covering Nordic skiing events.

Viasat, the pay-television operator run by multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster Modern Times Group, has extended a rights agreement in Scandinavia and the Baltic region for the MotoGP motorcycling series, while international sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired rights in Romania to the championship.

The Bonnier media group has appointed Rickard Segeborn as the new chief operating officer for sport across two of its channels.

Niclas Ericson, director of TV at Fifa, will leave his role at football’s global governing body at the end of this year.

Multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster Modern Times Group has extended a rights deal with the NFL American football league in the Nordic region.

Pay-television broadcaster Eurosport Norway has struck a rights deal with the English Football League, which operates the three divisions below the top-tier Premier League.

Swedish cable-television operator Com Hem has completed its acquisition of pay-television broadcaster Boxer.