SBS Discovery to drop rights to Ice Hockey World Championship

Pan-Nordic basic-tier and pay-television broadcaster SBS Discovery Media has said it has no intention of acquiring the Norwegian rights to ice hockey’s 2014 World Championship, according to the VG newspaper.

SBS Discovery-owned pay-television channel Max has broadcast the past two editions of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s showpiece annual event, but will not televise next year’s tournament in Belarus.

“Based on the deadline we will not to avail ourselves of the option to purchase the rights to the Ice Hockey World Championships,” SBS Discovery sports director Jan-Erik Aalbu said.

The decision comes after SBS Discovery last month acquired the exclusive rights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden to all European qualifying matches for the Uefa Euro 2016 and 2018 Fifa World Cup football competitions.