Zug, Switzerland, 12 April 2006 – Infront Sports & Media, the long-term marketing partner of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), has renewed an extensive and exclusive live broadcast agreement with Viasat Sport for the IIHF World Championship until 2011. This extends a working relationship that has been in place since 1989.

Viasat Sport is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Modern Times Group MTG AB, a Stockholm-based international entertainment-broadcasting group.

 

Viasat will broadcast the annual IIHF World Championship in ice hockey on its free-to-air and pay channels in the territories of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The company already holds the exclusive rights to the IIHF World Championship until 2007.

 

In addition, Viasat has also acquired the rights to live broadcast coverage of the IIHF World Championship for additional new media distribution platforms with effect from 2007 and until 2011. The rights granted are in the category of Internet, IPTV and Mobile Telephony. The transmission to mobile phones/handsets is possible over telecommunications networks (e.g. UMTS) and over digital mobile broadcast systems employing DVB-H transmission standards.

 

The IIHF World Championship is one of the most popular sports events among TV viewers in the Nordic region. Subscribers to the Viasat digital satellite premium pay-TV platform in both the Scandinavian and Baltic regions will be able to watch live coverage of the event, and the games will be broadcast on TV3, TV3+ and on additional Viasat channels. The coverage of the IIHF World Championship will feature player profiles, interviews and extensive in-depth coverage for ice hockey enthusiasts.

 

Oscar Frei, CEO of Infront, said, "We are very pleased that we are able to continue our long-term relationship with Viasat until 2011. With this renewal we are looking forward to continuing the successful development of the electronic media rights to the IIHF World Championship in these important markets. During the upcoming years ice hockey fans in Scandinavia and the Baltics will be able to enjoy an unprecedented variety of live viewing options delivered through multiple distribution windows."

 

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President and CEO of MTG, added, "We are delighted that we have successfully prolonged the exclusive rights to one of the most popular events amongst our viewers. The IIHF World Championship has, over the years, been a consistent ratings winner across our broadcasting territories. This deal follows our commitment to provide viewers with the best sports entertainment available."

 

For further information, please contact:

Jörg Polzer

Infront Sports & Media AG

Tel. +41-41-723 15 15

Fax +41-41-723 15 16

info@infrontsports.com