STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 4, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Modern Times Group MTG AB (Nasdaq:MTGNY), the international media group, today announced that Viasat Broadcasting has signed an agreement with the Swedish Handball Association and acquired the rights to broadcast the 2002 and 2004 Handball World Cup tournaments. TV3 will broadcast the matches live in Sweden and Denmark, as well as offering additional channels and services to the 550,000 premium subscribers who have access to Viasat's digital platform.
The World Cup is being arranged for the ninth time in November this year and is one of the world's leading handball championships. Eight of the world's leading mens' teams will participate in this year's tournament, including the reigning European champions Sweden, as well as Denmark, France, Russia and Germany, the runners up in the last final.
TV3 will broadcast all of Sweden's and Denmark's games live, as well as the semi-finals and the final. A number of extra channels and services will be offered on Viasat's digital platform, including a dedicated match highlight channel, 'player cam' (tracking the performance of individual players), statistics and competitions.
Hans-Holger Albrecht, President and CEO of MTG, commented: "MTG and Viasat consistently offer viewers the best TV entertainment possible. Viasat provides strong coverage of domestic and international sports events and the extremely popular Handball World Cup will further strengthen this offering."
"Swedish Handball is very happy to now have a long term cooperation with Viasat, and we see this as the beginning of a deeper partnership on a Nordic basis," said Christer Thelin, CEO of the Swedish Handball Association.
Modern Times Group MTG AB has six business areas: Viasat Broadcasting (free-to-air and pay TV channels in nine countries, and the new media businesses - teletext operations and the Everyday interactive TV, internet and mobile portals), Radio (local and national networks in five countries), Publishing (financial news and information services), Modern Interactive (home shopping, e-commerce, and logistics), SDI Media (subtitling and dubbing services), and Modern Studios (content production and rights library).
Modern Times Group MTG AB's class A and B shares are listed on the Stockholmsborsen O-list (symbols: MTGA and MTGB) and ADRs are listed on the Nasdaq National Market in New York (symbol: MTGNY).
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