The Modern Times Group (MTG), owner of the Viasat direct-to-home television operation, signed an agreement to acquire 50 percent of GES Media Holding (GMH) in the Czech Republic from GES Media Europe, MTG announced Sept. 29. The acquisition is designed to increase MTG’s presence in the Czech Republic television market.

GMH owns FTV Prima, the second largest national television channel in the Czech Republic. Prima was launched in 1993 as the first privately owned commercial television channel in the Czech Republic. The channel has a nationwide penetration of more than 98 percent of the 4 million television-viewing households in the country and is broadcast under a national terrestrial license until 2018.