Nordics

Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has acquired exclusive rights across the Nordic region for the LaLiga and Serie A top football divisions in Spain and Italy.

Strong competition in the Nordics between established media groups and an as-yet unidentified player helped the Premier League double its income in the region – continuing the remarkable start to its new international sales cycle.

The Formula E electric car-racing championship has agreed a new broadcast rights deal in Iceland, along with extending existing agreements in Albania and Cyprus.

Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, has extended its rights partnership with the Premier League in Sweden and Denmark, as well as adding rights in Finland for the first time, while Norwegian commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV2 has also extended its contract with the top division of English football.

Norwegian commercial broadcaster TV2 has struck a production and rights deal with the International Cycling Union (UCI) for the 2017 UCI Road World Championships.

Pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired rights in seven countries for the 2015-16 Formula E Championship electric car-racing series.

Norway became the latest Scandinavian country to be afforded free live streaming of the top divisions of Spanish and Italian football, LaLiga and Serie A, over the weekend.

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has struck a deal to show coverage of this weekend’s matches from the Serie A and LaLiga top football divisions in Italy and Spain, while football-dedicated publication Tipsbladet has also acquired rights in Denmark.

Norwegian public-service broadcaster NRK has acquired rights for the 2015 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships and the 2016 World Chess Championship.
 

Media and entertainment company Discovery Networks has acquired rights for Norway's top handball league and the national handball team in the country.

Norwegian pay-television operator RiksTV has struck a carriage deal for a portfolio of channels operated by media and entertainment company Discovery Communications, including Eurosport Norge.

Multi-territory broadcaster Modern Times Group renewed National Hockey League rights across the Nordics late last month, but missed out on the sport’s World Championship rights in Sweden.

Swedish commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV4 has acquired rights to broadcast the forthcoming America's Cup World Series sailing event in Gothenburg.

International media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has confirmed the new regional version of its Eurosport pan-European channel will launch in Norway on September 3.

Modern Times Group, the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster, will cut about 300 jobs as part of a process to restructure the company and focus on digital assets.

The Norwegian Handball Federation is planning to launch its own online channel after an agreement with Norwegian commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV2 for internet coverage was curtailed.