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MTG signs two agreements to boost free-TV penetration and strengthen pay-TV offering in DenmarkJan 17, 2013 (M2 EQUITYBITES via COMTEX) -- Modern Times Group AB (MTG) AB (STO:MTGA), an entertainment broadcasting group, announced today the signing of channel distribution agreements in Denmark. These agreements, financial details of which were not available, will make MTG's TV3 and TV3 PULS free-TV channels available on Telenor-owned Canal Digital Denmark A/S' satellite pay-TV platform in Denmark for the first time and include SBS Broadcasting's (SBS) Danish free-TV channels in MTG's Danish pay-TV offerings, also for the first time. Canal Digital will include TV3 and TV3 PULS in its 'Local' satellite pay-TV package, effective the beginning of February 2013. This follows the signing of a channel distribution agreement in Denmark in November 2012 to make MTG's TV3 and TV3 PULS free-TV channels available on Boxer TV-Access A/S's digital terrestrial platform from 1 January 2013 and 1 July 2013, respectively. These agreements are together expected to boost the national perceived penetration of TV3 from 67% in Q4 2012 to approximately 79% in February 2013, and of TV3 PULS from 46% in Q4 2012 to approximately 57% in July 2013. TV3 and TV3 PULS are also available alongside MTG's third Danish free-TV channel, TV3+, on MTG's Viasat satellite. SBS's Kanal 4 and Kanal 5 free-TV channels will be included in MTG's Viasat 'Bonus' satellite pay-TV package with effect from the beginning of February 2013 and will therefore be available to all Viasat satellite pay-TV customers in Denmark. SBS's Danish free-TV channels will also be available as part of Viasat's channel package offering on the Waoo! IPTV network. This follows the signing of another agreement in November 2012 to make C More Entertainment AB's Canal 8 Sport and Canal 9 Danish pay-TV channels available on MTG's Viasat's satellite pay-TV platform and as part of Viasat's offering on the Waoo! network with effect from the beginning of January 2013. Subscribers to the Viasat satellite pay-TV platform or Viasat offering on the Waoo! network will continue to receive free access to MTG's Viaplay online pay-TV service, MTG said. In addition, following MTG's acquisition of the remaining shares in the Danish TV 2 Sport A/S joint venture pay-TV channel business, MTG has now rebranded the TV 2 Sport and TV 2 Sport Premier League pay-TV channels as TV3 Sport 1 and TV3 Sport Premier League, and will launch TV3 Sport 2 as a new channel on 5 February 2013. The channels will be available in both standard and high definition formats. TV3 Sport 1 is now available to approximately 50% of Danish TV households through MTG's Viasat satellite pay-TV platform and third party networks. Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected] |