Norwegian commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV2 has struck a sublicensing agreement for Uefa Champions League rights with Modern Times Group in a deal that ends the multi-territory commercial and pay-television broadcaster’s exclusive hold on the club football competition in the country.
MTG yesterday (Tuesday) extended its rights to the Champions League in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The new three-season deal covers Champions League rights from 2018-19 to 2020-21. MTG secured the rights on an exclusive basis in Denmark and Sweden, along with 108 matches per season on an exclusive basis in Norway.
Under its agreement with MTG, which runs across the same three-season window, TV2 will exclusively broadcast two games per round, including from the knock-out stages, and will also televise the final.
TV2 said it will take a free-to-air approach to its Champions League coverage, with MTG having held exclusive rights to the tournament in Norway since its formation in 1992.
Asked about the cost of the deal, TV2 chief executive Olav Sandnes said: “Sports rights are expensive in 2017. But at TV2, we still have a burning desire to communicate the major sports competitions, and I'm incredibly happy.”