Viasat has restructured its premium sports offering in the Nordic region, launching new channels in Sweden and Norway, giving both countries a choice of five dedicated Viasat sports channels.
Viasat Sport, Viasat Football and Viasat Motor will launch in Sweden, while Viasat Sport and Viasat Motor launch in Norway, where viewers will also continue to enjoy the Sport joint venture with public broadcaster NRK. TV2 Sport will also be available on DTH in Norway for the first time. Viasat Sport HD will be available in both Sweden and Norway while Viasat Golf will continue to be available on a pan-Scandinavian basis.
The new channel structure replaces the current Viasat Sport 1, 2 and 3 channels, in what Viasat says reflects the growing demand for localised premium sports content, it might also be said that the competitive nature of the market has made it possible for rights holds sell their properties on a local rather than a regional basis.
Viasat Sport holds the rights to the UEFA Champions League and Formula One through until the end of the 2012 season. In Sweden Viasat Football has the rights to World Cup qualifying matches in Sweden, England and Germany; and top-flight football from France and Germany. In Norway coverage also includes the Norwegian Get league and Ice Hockey World Championship.
Sports coverage in Denmark continues through TV2 Sport and TV2 Sport HD, as well as Viasat Golf.
