Modern Times Group (MTG), the owner of the Viasat direct-to-home (DTH) platform in the Nordic Region, signed a deal to gain exclusive broadcasting rights for the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2006 and 2008 in Sweden and Norway. Coverage from each race will be shown on the TV3, ZTV and Viasat Sport channels. MTG will show live coverage of the main race on Sundays, as well coverage of qualifying and practice sessions.

Viasat competes against fellow DTH platform Canal Digital in the Nordic region. With sports content being a key battleground, this is an important strategic win for the operator. “The Formula One World Championship is one of the world’s most popular sports events and we will bring Viasat viewers the best possible coverage from each race,” Hans- Holger Albrecht, president and CEO of MTG said in a statement. “This agreement follows earlier signed sports rights agreements such as the exclusive deal with the UEFA Champions League and clearly shows our commitment to provide viewers with the best sports available.”