Multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster Modern Times Group has extended its rights deal with golf’s European Tour under an agreement that secures exclusive Nordic media rights to a host of the sport’s top properties.
The European Tour package includes the eight Rolex Series events on the Tour, the World Golf Championships and the Ryder Cup for the next six years.
The contract covers Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden until 2024, with content to be offered live on MTG’s Nordic video streaming service Viaplay and pay-television channel Viasat Golf.
Held every two years, the next Ryder Cup takes place from September 28-30 at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, a suburb southwest of Paris, France.
Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “Golf in the Nordic region is booming with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson (pictured) having won The Open Championship in 2016, Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen and Lucas Bjerregaard having won our inaugural GolfSixes tournament for Denmark last summer and Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen having topped the Challenge Tour Rankings at the end of last season.
“Add to the fact, of course, that Europe will be led into the Ryder Cup in France by the Great Dane himself, Thomas Bjørn, and you have a spectacular golfing landscape for viewers across the Nordic region to enjoy over the coming months and years.”