MTG wins exclusive Finnish media rights to the UEFA European 2020 and FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers

MTG wins exclusive Finnish media rights to the UEFA European 2020 and FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers

STOCKHOLM, 26-May-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — MTG has won the exclusive Finnish media rights to the UEFA European Qualifiers 2020 and the qualifying tournament for the FIFA World Cup 2022, along with the rights to UEFA’s new European competition, the UEFA Nations League. Games will be available in Finland through MTG’s subscription-based services Viasat and Viaplay – and for the first time ever, premium sports content will also be shown on the advertising-funded streaming service Viafree.

• MTG extends portfolio of international football rights in Finland to include the UEFA European Qualifiers 2020 and the qualifying tournament for the FIFA World Cup 2022, as well as the UEFA Nations League 2018/2019 and 2020/2021
• Games will be available on MTG’s Viasat and Viaplay; many games will also be available for everyone with broadband access through Viafree
• Follows MTG securing exclusive Nordic media rights to FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Championship

Every season, a total of 250 national team games will be shown on MTG’s Viasat pay-TV channels and Viaplay streaming service in Finland. A large number of selected high profile games will also be available on Viafree, the free streaming service launched in Finland in April 2017.

The new rights expand MTG’s already extensive football rights portfolio in Finland, which offers fans the world’s very best football competitions, including UEFA Champions League, Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, FA Cup, Ligue 1, and the EFL Cup and EFL Championship.

Mathias Norrback, CEO Viasat Finland: “It feels great to add some of the most exciting national team football matches to our unrivalled portfolio of international club football rights. Finnish fans will now be able to experience the excitement of two qualifying tournaments and the UEFA Nations League on more platforms than ever before, and we are particularly excited about making many games available to everyone, everywhere through Viafree.”

In the UEFA European Qualifiers 2020, to be played from March 2019 to March 2020, all 55 UEFA national men’s teams will compete for 24 places at the UEFA European Championship 2020, to be held in June and July 2020. Twenty teams will qualify initially, with four more qualifying via the UEFA Nations League – a brand-new league competition replacing most friendlies.

The qualification process for the FIFA World Cup 2022 has not yet been announced; the qualifying draw is scheduled to take place in July 2019.

Ville Klinga, Head of Sports, Viasat Finland: “As we already have the best club football in the world with the rights to Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and FA Cup, we have decided to focus on bringing national team football to our viewers and customers in Finland. I am pleased that we have managed to get the best national team football on the market.”

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MTG (Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ.)) is a leading international digital entertainment group and we are shaping the future of entertainment by connecting consumers with the content that they love in as many ways as possible. Our brands span TV, radio and next generation entertainment experiences in esports, digital video networks and online gaming. Born in Sweden, our shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘MTGA’ and ‘MTGB’).

SOURCE: Modern Times Group MTG