Steiber
Just months after its launch, MTG is merging its so-called digital accelerator business MTGx with its Viaplay online pay-TV business, under the command of MTGx boss Rikard Steiber, MTG Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer.
Rikard Steiber, MTG EVP and Chief Digital Officer, commented: “Viaplay is our number one digital priority. It has shown tremendous growth as the pioneer in the subscription video on demand space with an unrivalled content offering of great movies, series, kids’ shows and sports. MTGx is our digital accelerator, so combining the powers of these two businesses will enable MTG to step up our combined digital development and explore new opportunities across all of our free and paid digital platforms.”
Launched in 2011, Viaplay is MTG’s largest digital business, offering movies and live sports. It has benefited from the recent coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympic games, exclusive in Sweden, which brought in record viewing figures. Content is available across a range of connected devices including tablets, personal computers, smart TVs, set-top boxes and games consoles, and also as a multi-screen solution for MTG’s Viasat satellite premium and third party network subscribers. Viaplay is available in all four Nordic countries, Russia and Ukraine.
MTGx was launched in June 2013 as a new Group-wide initiative to accelerate the pace of MTG’s digital innovation and expansion. It has re-launched the group’s advertising funded catch-up TV platforms across 8 markets, invested in a leading YouTube multi-channel network on YouTube, created specific web and mobile content, and developed a wide range of digital services including a new visual radio app, new sport app and a state of the art eSports broadcasting studio.
Niclas Ekdahl, the current CEO of Viaplay, is leaving MTG to pursue new opportunities.
