MTG says it is continuing to explore its options after the introduction of a law, banning advertising on pay-TV channels, was brought in earlier this year.
In the last few days an amendment to the law, allowing ads on channels where there is 75% Russian content has been introduced, and is awaiting presidential signature.
“We are working with a range of potential solutions, in order to best protect the interests of stakeholders in these entertainment businesses that we have built into the most popular in Russia,” said CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann.
Sales across the Baltic markers were up as in line with the local markets the advertising market expanded in Estonia and Latvia, but was down in Lituania.
The pay business has seen its mini-pay channels decline by 3% year on year, when the contribution from Trace, acquired in June 2014, is excluded.
Russia is excluded from the Baltic figure and its operation CTC Media reports after MTG.
MTG’s Nordic pay-TV business continues to be driven by the expansion of the On Demand Viaplay platform. In a market where the linear market is arguably in decline, premium subscribers remain stable at around 1 million – split 60/40 in favour of satellite homes – though premium satellite ARPU was up 2% at SEK 5,255 after recent price increases.
