Modern Times Group (MTG) is a Swedish digital entertainment company. MTG was formed out of the media holdings of investment company Kinnevik, which in 1997 was distributed to the company stockholders. MTG operates free-to-air and pay-TV channels and their catch-up (AVOD) services, radio stations, a premium subscription online service Viaplay, multi-channel networks (MCN) Splay Networks and Zoomin.TV, as well as eSports businesses, ESL and Dreamhack.
Since July 2015, MTG's digital presence was expanded through a number of acquisitions. MTG bought 74% of the shares in Turtle Entertainment, the company that runs Electronic Sports League (ESL), an eSports tournament organiser and followed up that acquisition with a further investment in Splay, Scandinavia's largest Multi-channel network, going from 49% to 81% of the shares in the company. MTG then acquired 51% of the shares in Zoomin.TV, Europe's largest MCN and the 5th largest network on YouTube. Also very recently, MTG made the acquisition of 100% of DreamHack, one of the biggest eSports tournament organisers in the world.
MTG operates advertising funded channels in Scandinavia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and the Baltic countries. Typically, the portfolio structure for these channels is one primary channel (TV3, Prima, Nova), and then secondary channels (TV6, TV3+, Prima Love, etc...) These channels generate primarily advertising revenues, and are classified as free-TV, but a majority of the Scandinavian free-TV channels are encrypted and subject to decoding fees.
Networks
MTG operates the Viasat satellite platform in the Scandinavia and Baltic states, offering both in-house and third party channels. The sports channels available in the different Scandinavian countries differ somewhat depending on different rights held for different markets and different business agreements. MTG also operates Viaplay, an online pay-TV service in the Nordic countries. MTG is also present in the MCN space through its part ownership of Splay, the largest Swedish MCN ('Multi Channel Network') on YouTube, and Zoomin.TV, one of the largest MCNs that has local presence in 12 countries and produces short form videos in 26 markets.
The "TRACE" platform is also available in the Worldwide with the following channels:
Trace Urban (SD/HD)
Trace Tropical (SD/HD)
Trace Africa (SD/HD)
Trace Toca (SD/HD)
Trace Mziki (SD/HD)
Trace Naija (SD/HD)
Trace Gospel (SD/HD)
Trace Sport Stars (SD/HD)
Scandinavia
The following channels are available in all Scandinavian countries:
Viasat Film Premiere (SD/HD)
Viasat Film Action (SD/HD)
Viasat Film Family
Viasat Film Comedy (SD/HD)
Viasat Film Hits
Viasat Series (SD/HD)
eSportsTV (HD)
Viasat Golf (SD/HD) (except Denmark)
Viasat Hockey (SD/HD) (except Denmark)
Viasat Ultra HD (UHD) (except Denmark)
These channels are only available in Sweden:
Viasat Sport Sweden (formerly known as Viasat Sport 1) (SD/HD)
Viasat Fotboll (formerly known as Viasat Sport 2) (SD/HD)
Viasat Motor (formerly known as Viasat Sport 3) (SD/HD)
Viasat Sport Premium HD (HD)
These channels are only available in Norway:
Viasat Sport Norge (SD/HD)
Viasat Fotball (from 15 September 2009) (SD/HD)
Viasat Motor (formerly known as Viasat Sport 3) (SD/HD)
These channels are available in Finland:
Viasat Urheilu (HD)
Viasat Jalkapallo (HD)
Viasat Jääkiekko (HD)
The Viasat platform is also available in the Baltic countries with the following channels:
Viasat Sport Baltic
Viasat Golf
Viasat Motor (SD/HD)
eSportsTV
Viasat owns several radio networks and stations in Scandinavia, Baltic countries and Bulgaria:
Rix FM, national network in Sweden
Lugna favoriter, national network in Sweden
Star FM, station in Stockholm and Gothenburg
Bandit Rock, station in Stockholm
Power Hit Radio, station in Stockholm
P4 Radio Hele Norge, national network in Norway (DAB+ and FM)
P5 Hits, national network in Norway (DAB+ and FM)
P6 Rock, national network in Norway (DAB+)
P7 Klem, national network in Norway (DAB+)
P8 Pop, national network in Norway (DAB+)
P9 Retro, national network in Norway (DAB+)
P10 Country, national network in Norway (DAB+)
NRJ Norway, national network in Norway (DAB+ and FM)
Star FM, national network in Estonia
Power Hit Radio, station in Tallinn, Parnu, Tartu and Rakvere
Radio Volna, station in Tallinn and Kohtla-Jarve
Star FM, national network in Latvia
Power Hit Radio, national network in Lithuania
Radio Nova News, station in Sofia
Trace FM, station in Paris (DAB+), Guadeloupe (FM), Guyane (FM), Martinique (FM) and Renuion (FM)
Nice Entertainment Group comprises 28 production companies in 16 countries, including Strix Television, Paprika Latino, Novemberfilm, Redaktörerna, DRG, Monster, One Big Happy Family, Playroom, Rakett, Titan, Baluba, Nice Drama, Moskito, Production House, Grillifilms and Gong.
TV3 launches in Sweden on New Year's Eve becoming the first commercial channel in Scandinavia.
TV3 starts broadcasting to Norway and Denmark. The number of viewers increase from 1.2 million at launch to 3.4 million at end of 1988.
Strix launches independent TV production.
August: Pay TV channel TV1000 launches.
TV Shop starts selling products and services on TV3.
TV3 achieves 45% penetration in Sweden and commands 90% of TV advertising market.
Acquisition of majority shareholding in Svensk Text (SDI Media).
September: TV3 Denmark launches, replacing the Pan-Scandinavian version.
TV3 reports annual profit.
TV3 Norway launches, each Scandinavian country now has its own version of TV3.
TV4 granted license as Sweden's third terrestrial TV station. Kinnevik acquires 30% shareholding in TV4.
Launch of Viasat DTH satellite pay-TV platform.
TV1000 merges with competitor SF Succé.
ZTV's first year as independent channel.
Kinnevik's media companies report annual profit.
September: P4 Radio Hele Norge a national commercial radio network in Norway is launched. MTG is one of its founders.
First commercial radio licenses obtained in Sweden. TV3 commences Teletext broadcasting.
Terrestrial TV channels launched in Estonia and Lithuania.
TV4 becomes largest channel in Sweden.
TV6 launched.
MTG incorporated as Kinnevik subsidiary.
Metro launched in Stockholm.
Minority holding acquired in Finanstidningen daily business newspaper.
Satellite TV distribution platform switched from Astra to NSAB.
January: Radio Rix radio network formed through a merger between MTG's P6 and SRU.
April: ZTV and TV6 merged to form 3+ in Denmark.
Launch of Viasat+, an analogue low-pay satellite package broadcast from the NSAB satellite consisting of MTG's own television channels as well as Nickelodeon, VH1 and Sci-Fi Channel.
Shares in MTG distributed to Kinnevik shareholders and listed on Stockholm Börsinformation and Nasdaq National Market in New York. Second Metro edition published in Prague.
Strix becomes first company in the world to produce the Survivor reality TV format.
February: Metro launches in Gothenburg.
March: TV6 in Sweden relaunches as a Pan-Nordic pay channel called "TV6 Nature World" and "TV6 Action World".
ZTV moves from Stockholm to London and expands its schedule considerably.
MTG acquires the Latvian television channel Channel 31, which is later transformed into TV3 Latvia.
Viasat's satellite TV subscribers exceed 1 million.
Commercial radio operations launched in Estonia and Latvia.
September: Metro launches in Budapest.
Metro launched in Malmö, Helsinki and the Netherlands.
Monthly magazine Kapital launched in Sweden.
Internet portal Everyday.com introduced.
Swedish business channel TV8 acquired.
MTG's shares quoted on Stockholmsbörsen O-list.
February: Launch of CDON.COM.
March: Launch of sports channel Viasat Sport.
June: Darial-TV started broadcasting as DTV-Viasat.
March: Launch of television channel Viasat Plus in Norway.
Annual General Meeting approves distribution of Metro International S.A. share capital to MTG shareholders.
Hans-Holger Albrecht appointed President and CEO of MTG.
MTG buys the Hungarian television channel Alfa TV which becomes Viasat3.
PIN24 launches on Sky TV's platform in UK.
MTG buys the rest of TV1000 from its parent company.
Viasat launched its digital satellite platform.
May: Viasat becomes first European satellite TV broadcaster to switch off analog transmission of premium pay-TV channels following successful transition to digital TV.
TV3 awarded national terrestrial broadcasting license in Latvia.
Digital home-shopping channel PIN24 launched in Denmark.
MTG acquires 75% of Russian national commercial TV channel.
Options to Strix reality TV formats sold in over 30 countries to date.
Viasat launches four new digital pay-TV channels in Nordic region.
EUR 120 million convertible subordinated bonds issued to fund further expansion.
Number of Viasat digital DTH subscribers increases to over 550,000 by year-end.
January: Viasat Sport Denmark and Viasat Explorer launches.
January: Acquisition of 37 percent of StoryFirst Communications, Inc., owner of the Russian CTC network.
January: Acquisition of Swedish radio stations Lugna Favoriter and WOW 105.5 from RTL Group.
New TV3 schedule recovers share of viewing in Scandinavia.
Doubling of Eastern European TV revenues.
Launch of PIN24 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Launch of Tango TV in Lithuania.
Increase in number of digital DTH subscribers to 617,000 and more than doubling of pay-TV operating income.
TV1000 and Baltic operations both report first annual profits, and TV-Shop turned around. SEK 423 million increase in operating free cash flow.
TV3 Scandinavia recovers share of viewing and advertisement sales.
Eastern European operations profitable on a combined basis.
Pay-TV record operating income SEK 505 million.
Viasat signs agreement with NDS VideoGuard to eliminate piracy.
Launch of pay TV channels TV 1000 East and Viasat Explorer in Eastern and Central Europe.
MTG reports highest ever operating result.
February: Launch of Viasat Sport 2 and Viasat Sport 3
May: Viasat History launches in Eastern Europe.
September: Launch of TV1000 Action, TV1000 Classic, TV1000 Family and TV1000 Nordic.
Viasat successfully completes implementation of new conditional access system.
Highest net subscriber intake since digitalisation of platform in 2000.
Viasat's four channels reach 6.4 million homes in Central and Eastern Europe.
MTG acquires remaining minority interests in DTV and increases its shareholding in CTC Media and Radio Hele Norge following sale of SDI Media for US$60 million.
MTG acquires 19.9% of betting company BET24.
MTG also signs agreement with NRJ Group to assume management of 20 radio stations in Sweden (and 5 in Norway), thereby increasing penetration for MTG's national network to 83%.
MTG sells its 15.1 percent interest in TV4 AB in January 2005. In March, CTC Media launches the Domashny television network in Russia.
In July 2005, Modern Entertainment Ltd., its film rights unit in Los Angeles, agreed to sell 332 films to Lionsgate Films and shut down its operations to focus on European operations.
October: Launch of Russian language movie channel TV1000 Russian Kino.
October: SportN launches in Norway.
November: TV1000 Balkan launches.
March: MTG became majority shareholder of Bet24, owning 90% of the company.[4]
May: TV6 launches in Sweden.
September: MTG increases its holding P4 Radio Hele Norge to 90.8 percent, becoming the sole owner in December.
November: Viasat Sport East launches.
January: Viasat Golf launches in the Nordic countries.
March: MTG buys the Balkan Media Group Limited Bulgarian channels: Diema, Diema 2, Diema Family, Diema Extra, MM and M2
April: TV6 launches in Latvia.
May: M2 in Bulgaria is closed down.
September: Viasat 4 launches, replacing ZTV in Norway.
October: CTC-media bought & rebrand DTV
January: Viasat launches high-definition television in the Nordic countries.
March: TV6 launches in Estonia.
April: TV1000 Premium launches in the Baltics.
July: MTG buys Nova television and Nova+ from Antenna Group.
September: Tango TV relaunches as TV6 Lithuania.
December: Viasat 1 launches in Ghana.
December: Nova+ in Bulgaria is closed down.
January: Viasat Sport Baltic launches.
February: TV1000 Drama launches.
March: TV3 Puls launches in Denmark.
The Diema Media Group and MM, previously a joint-venture between MTG and Apace Media, are merged with Nova television to create the Nova Broadcasting Group.
April: Prima Cool launches in the Czech Republic.
April: Nova Sport launches in Bulgaria, replacing MM.
September: TV10 launches in Sweden.
December: Modern African Productions was founded in Ghana.
March: Prima love launches in the Czech Republic.
August: M.A.P. launches her first production in Ghana.
September: Kino Nova launches in Bulgaria, replacing Diema 2.
October: TV8 opened in Lithuania. CTC-Media launched Peretz based on DTV.
November: CTC opened in Baltic.
January: MTG reaches an agreement on acquiring Latvian channels LNT, TV5 and Kanāls 2.
February: In Slovenia closed down TV3.
March: All TV 1000 channels in Nordic countries renamed as Viasat Film.
April: Nova Premier League HD launches in Bulgaria.
June: Viasat Motor launches in Baltic.
July: Jorgen Madsen appointed President and CEO of MTG.
October: Game-services Bet24 sold.
November: Running HD-version channels TV6 Sweden, Viasat 4, Viasat Explorer, Viasat History, Viasat Nature, Viasat Crime.
January: Radio station NRJ Sweden sold to SBS Sweden (ProSiebenSat.1). In Denmark running TV3 Sport 1.
February: Prima ZOOM opened in Czech Republic. Running TV3 Sport 2 in Denmark.
March: Running HD-version TV3 Denmark.
November: TV6 opened in Norway.
June: Nova Premier League HD in Bulgaria is closed down.
July: Nova Sport HD launches in Bulgaria.
February: MTG acquires 75% Trace Partners SAS (brand 'TRACE')
December: Russian satellite TV-platform Raduga TV closed down.
February: MTG sold Hungarian Free-TV channels (Viasat3, Viasat6 and Hungarian video-portal Viasat Play) to Sony Pictures Television Networks.
February: Diema Sport launches in Bulgaria.
June: MTG acquires 74% of the German gaming company Turtle Entertainment.
August: Diema Sport 2 launches in Bulgaria.
September: MTG acquires majority stake in esports company Turtle Entertainment and its subsidiaries Electronic Sports League (ESL)
October: MTG sold Viasat Russian & international pay-TV channels (factual, movie and sports channels in Russia. TV1000 and pan-regional factual channels in international) to Baring Vostok Company in international and LLC Sinerdzhi in Russia.
November: MTG acquires Swedish esports tournament DreamHack
December: MTG and minoritaries sold 75% CTC Media to ″UTH Holding″ in Russia.
March: MTG sold Ukrainian pay-TV company Viasat Ukraine to 1+1 Media Group. In Latvia Russian-language channel TV5 closed down.
May: MTG took a 22 per cent stake in Engage Sports Media (ESM). ESM described the deal as a ‘strategically important investment’ that will allow ESM to accelerate its growth and focuses on content IP development, technical tools and adding new talent across the business. Arnd Benninghoff, CEO of MTGx said “this investment reflects our focus on becoming the leading digital video entertainment company in each of our markets, and our strategy to invest in relevant, complementary and scalable digital brands, content and communities.”
August: For the Nordic Market, Viasat launches Scandinavia's first UHD Channel to deliver select Rio 2016 OL programs (and future UHD Sports Broadcasts) as well as a new HD Sports Channel branded "Viasat Sport Premium.",
December: MTG sold Afican business (Viasat 1 (Ghana), TV1 (Tanzania) and Modern African Production (MAP)) to Econet Media Group.
