MTG extends grip on KHL rights

Modern Times Group (MTG) has extended its grip on exclusive rights to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in the Nordic region until 2021.

The deal means that MTG will continue to air KHL ice hockey in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden for the next four seasons. Matches featuring Finland’s Jokerit team and other selected high-profile games will be shown live on MTG’s Viasat Hockey channel in Finland, Norway and Sweden, or the Viaplay streaming service, where coverage will also be available in Denmark.

The KHL comprises 27 teams from Russia, Belarus, China, Finland, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Slovakia. However, Finland’s Jokerit has played in the league since 2014 and has reached at least the conference quarter-finals every year.

The new KHL season starts on August 21. In addition to the KHL rights, acquired from Lagardère Sports and Entertainment, MTG holds the exclusive rights to the NHL in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will be shown in Sweden exclusively on MTG’s free-TV channels and on Viasat Hockey in 2018, 2020 and 2022, and Viaplay will offer the tournament in Sweden every year until 2023.

Peter Nørrelund, MTG EVP and CEO of MTG Sport, said: “This is a historic moment for all hockey fans in the Nordic region – KHL’s 10th season starts soon and MTG is bringing even more amazing hockey action to our customers across every screen. A world-class league like KHL deserves world-class coverage, and viewers can look forward to getting closer to the ice than ever before on Viasat and Viaplay.”