Modern Times Group (MTG) has extended its exclusive media rights to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in the Nordic region until 2021.
Starting from the 2017/2018 season, which gets under way on August 21, KHL matches featuring Finland’s Jokerit, along with selected high-profile games from across the competition, will be shown live on MTG’s Viasat Hockey channel (in Finland, Norway and Sweden) and Viaplay streaming service (in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden).
Considered Europe and Asia’s leading ice hockey league, the KHL is contested by 27 teams from Russia, Belarus, China, Finland, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Slovakia. Jokerit have played in the KHL since 2014 and reached at least the conference quarter-finals every year.
Commenting on the rights, Peter Nørrelund, MTG EVP and CEO of MTG Sport, said: “This is a historic moment for all hockey fans in the Nordic region – KHL’s 10th season starts soon and MTG is bringing even more amazing hockey action to our customers across every screen. A world-class league like KHL deserves world-class coverage, and viewers can look forward to getting closer to the ice than ever before on Viasat and Viaplay.”
In addition to the KHL rights, acquired from Lagardère Sports and Entertainment, MTG holds the exclusive rights to the NHL in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will be shown in Sweden exclusively on MTG’s free-TV channels and on Viasat Hockey in 2018, 2020 and 2022, and Viaplay will offer the tournament in Sweden every year until 2023.
