Nordics

Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has acquired a 22-per-cent stake in digital services provider Engage Sports Media and announced the launch of a new premium sports channel in Sweden.

Finnish public-service broadcaster YLE has acquired rights for the Ski Classics long-distance championship.

The Infront Sports & Media agency has brokered long-term rights deals with broadcasters in Canada, Denmark and Germany for a number of leading ice hockey events.

Norwegian commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV2 has acquired rights for Norway national team football matches over the next four years.

Viasat, the pay-television operator run by multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster Modern Times Group, will launch a new ultra-high-definition channel ahead of the start of the next football season.

YLE will pay a 10-per-cent increase for media rights in Finland to the Olympic Games of 2018 and 2020, despite being unable to secure coverage of some of the most valuable events.

Finnish public-service broadcaster YLE has struck a deal to sublicense rights to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games from US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications.

Norwegian public-service broadcaster NRK has agreed a deal to begin broadcasting coverage of the Ski Classics long-distance skiing championship.

The Damallsvenskan, the top division of women’s club football in Sweden, has launched a new online video platform in partnership with sports-rights agency Spring Media.

Swedish commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV4 has ramped up its commitment to American football in the country by agreeing an expanded rights deal for the domestic Superserien league.

Norwegian commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV2 is closing in on a rights deal for a host of national team properties of Uefa, European football’s governing body.

Norwegian state broadcaster NRK has sealed a rights deal for the World Rallycross Championship.

Norwegian pay-television distributor RiksTV has agreed a new long-term carriage deal with the Discovery Networks Norway division of international media company Discovery Communications that will include coverage of the Tippeligaen, the top division of domestic football.

The Canal Digital pay-television platform in the Nordic region has agreed a deal with Discovery Networks to renew carriage of the Eurosport Norge and TV Norge pay-television channels.

The CAA Eleven agency has launched tenders in four Nordic markets for rights to a host of national team properties of Uefa, European football’s governing body.

South Korean electronics company Samsung will deliver Olympic content in virtual reality for the first time during the upcoming winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway.