MTG and Viacom sign Scandinavian VOD deal

Modern Times Group has signed a partnership agreement with Viacom International Media Networks to include exclusive advertising-funded video on demand content.

Content from the MTV and Comedy Central channels will feature in MTG’s free-TV online ‘catch-up’ services in Sweden, Norway and Denmark from February 4. MTG will also handle advertising sales for Viacom’s online platforms, and sell the combined online reach of the MTG and Viacom online catch-up TV services to advertisers.

MTV and Comedy Central content will therefore be shown on TV3Play.se, TV6Play.se, TV8Play.se, and TV10Play.se in Sweden; and MTV content will be shown on TV3Play.no, Viasat4play.no and TV6Play.no in Norway, and on TV3Play.dk in Denmark.

The content includes MTV and Comedy Central hit formats such asCatfish, Geordie Shore, Teen Mom and The Daily Show, as well as an extensive library of TV series such as The Hills, Punked and Cribs. Kids TV series such as SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer from Viacom channel Nickelodeon are also already available through MTG’s Viaplay online pay-TV subscription service.

The online advertising sales agreement follows earlier agreements between MTG and Viacom, whereby MTG already sells airtime on Viacom’s linear channels MTV, Comedy Central and VH-1 as part of its free-TV advertising sales packages in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

“This is a key new step in the development of our strong partnership with Viacom, and reflects our determination to be the leading online and offline provider of high quality and relevant entertainment products in all of our markets,” said Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, president and CEO of MTG.

“This exciting content and sales agreement will provide our online viewers with even richer and more varied content experiences through multiple screens and devices, and provide our advertising customers with increased reach and impact”.