European club ice hockey competition the Kontinental Hockey League has strengthened its global footprint with the Ufa Sports agency securing a host of new broadcast rights deals.
Ufa, the KHL’s exclusive global media rights partner, has negotiated deals covering the territories of Finland, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Armenia and North America.
In Finland, satellite and pay-television operator Viasat, a division of Swedish media group MTG, will broadcast the KHL for the next three seasons, including both television and online coverage.
Viasat will broadcast all of HC Jokerit Helsinki’s home and away matches as well as one or two big games between other KHL clubs per week. Jokerit has been added to the KHL for its 2014-15 season.
KHL broadcast rights for Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia have been acquired by Sportgroup, who will transmit the league for the next three seasons and especially focus on Croatian club Medvescak Zagreb. In Armenia, the KHL will be broadcasted by Lime TV.
In North America, KHL matches will be televised by pay-television broadcaster One World Sports over the next three seasons.