MTG to sell Hungarian free-TV channels

MTG to sell Hungarian free-TV channels

Stockholm
February 11, 2015
08.00 CET
MTG has signed an agreement to sell its Hungarian free-TV operations, comprising the channels VIASAT3 and VIASAT6 and the catch-up service Viasat Play, to Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks for an undisclosed cash consideration.

The main channel VIASAT3 was launched in 2000, when MTG acquired a majority stake in the Budapest based TV-channel Alfa TV. VIASAT6 was launched in 2008 and is skewed towards a younger and male oriented audience. Viasat Play was launched in 2010. Both VIASAT3 and VIASAT6 are available on third party cable, DTH satellite and IPTV networks in Hungary.

MTG’s pay-TV channels Viasat Explore, Viasat History and Viasat Nature, are not part of the agreement, and will continue to be available to viewers in Hungary through a variety of distributors.

Our Hungarian channels were our first free-TV operations to be launched outside Scandinavia and the Baltics. We are proud of what has been achieved by the Hungarian team and are confident that the new owner will achieve further success with the business. We are focusing our European Free-TV Emerging Markets business on our scale and leading media houses in the Baltics, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, MTG President and CEO

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval by the Hungarian competition authority, and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2015. 

****

Any questions?www.mtg.comFacebook: facebook.com/MTGABTwitter: @mtgabpress@mtg.com (or Per Lorentz +46 736 99 27 09)investors@mtg.com (or Stefan Lycke +46 73 699 27 14)

MTG (Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ.)) is an international entertainment group. Our operations span six continents and include TV channels and platforms, online services, content production businesses and radio stations. We are also the largest shareholder in CTC Media, which is Russia’s leading independent media company. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm (‘MTGA’ and ‘MTGB’).

The information in this announcement is that which MTG is required to disclose according to the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act, and was released at 08.00 CET on 11 February 2015.

Downlad the press files:
Release