Viaplay Takes Over Premier Sports
Nordic media giant, ViaPlay has acquired Premier Sports in a £30 million pound deal ahead of their planned rollout in the UK this autumn.
The acquisition from Setanta Sports comes after Premier Sports secured a range of attractive sports rights which will compliment the rights Viaplay have already secured for the UK.
All Premier Sports platforms will receive the Viaplay branding and you will still be able to watch the channels on Sky and Virgin Media and online, but the content on the channels will change with the introduction to two streaming packages:
- Film and Series will focus on the ‘best of Nordic storytelling’ with Viaplay Originals and premium third-party content
- the Total package will include Viaplay and Premier Sports’ sports line-up alongside the Films and Series offering.
Anders Jensen, Viaplay president and chief executive said: “This acquisition will put Viaplay firmly on the UK map and accelerate our development in this key market. Premier Sports has a loyal and expanding subscriber base, well-established distribution agreements and production capabilities, and a great sports portfolio that complements our own.”
Richard Sweeney, Premier Sports chief executive, added: “At Premier Sports, we’re proud to have created a dynamic, innovative sports streamer and broadcaster over the past 13 years. From modest beginnings, and through the hard work and dedication of our people, we have continually grown the company, and today we have an extensive portfolio of must-see live sports that entertain loyal customers across the UK.
“Our sale to Viaplay Group will dramatically increase the content available to new and existing subscribers. This is the start of an exciting new chapter in the development of the business, and is great news for our colleagues, customers and partners.”
The Viaplay sports line-up will include the following:
- UEFA Nations League and European Qualifiers (excluding England) until 2028. The 2022-24 rights exclude Wales
- Scottish Cup
- Scottish League Cup
- NHL Ice Hockey (2022 to 2027)
- KSW mixed martial arts (2022 to 2025)
- IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (2024 to 2028)
- Champions Hockey League (2023/24 to 2027/28)
- ISU figure skating and speed skating (2023 to 2028) (ISU World figure skating championships from 2024)
- EHF European Handball Championship, EHF Champions League and EHF European League (men and women) (2022 to 2030)
- CEV EuroVolley, CEV Champions League, CEV EuroBeachVolley and additional CEV volleyball competitions (2022 to 2026)
- World Athletics Continental Tour Gold (2023 to 2029)
- World Athletics Indoor Tour (2023)
- FIS snowboard and freestyle (2022 to 2026)
- La Liga
- Coppa Italia
- United Rugby Championship
- Rugby Football League
- Top 14 rugby
- NASCAR motorsport
- Elite Ice Hockey League