MTG is now unlikely to sell its non-terrestrial TV channels outside Scandinavia to Leonard Blavatnik.
Instead, reports Vedomosti, it may do so to the National Media Group (NMG), adding that MTG has also previously held talks with Gazprom Media and Orion Express.
In August, Broadband TV News reported that Blavatnik had agreed in principle to buy a controlling interest in MTG’s Viasat business in Russia, as well as in other developing markets.
Sales of media assets in Russia are being driven by new rules that come into effect at the beginning of 2016.
Limiting levels of foreign ownership to 20%, they have already seen the shareholders of CTC Media, of which MTG is the largest, agree to sell a 75% interest in the broadcaster, rising to 80%, to an affiliate of UTH Russia.
