TV broadcaster Viasat, owned by Modern Times, will now provide DTH satellite TV services in a total of eight countries. Viasat Ukraine will offer a wide range of local Ukrainian and Russian channels, as well as locally customized international channels, including Viasat Broadcasting’s own Viasat History, Viasat Explorer, TV1000 East and TV1000 Russian Kino channels. The platform will be encrypted with the NDS VideoGuard conditional access system.
MTG and SMG each own 50% of Viasat Ukraine. The agreement is subject to approval by the Ukrainian competition authorities. The company will be proportionately consolidated by MTG, with 50% of revenues, costs, assets and liabilities reported in MTG’s accounts and included in the segmental reporting matrix in the ‘Pay-TV DTH platform & channels’ line under the ‘central & eastern Europe’ section of the Viasat Broadcasting business area.
Hans-Holger Albrecht, president and CEO of MTG, said: The launch of the new Viasat-branded platform in the Ukraine is an important development in our expansion and growth strategy, and demonstrates the value of our integrated platform and channel offering. The Ukraine is one of the largest and fastest growing markets in Eastern Europe. The partnership structure provides a strong combination of local and regional broadcasting experience and expertise, and is expected to enable us to achieve an accelerated development in this exciting market.
