Modern Times Group


MTG, CBS team for I Love Lucy adaptation

The Latvian division of the Modern Times Group is making a local version of classic US comedy I Love Lucy. The format is owned by CBS Studios International, which also sells the finished version and struck the deal with MTG Latvia. The original Lucille Ball series was on CBS in the US, starting in 1951 […]

DRG crowns Channel 4 Prince Philip doc

UK-based distributor DRG has acquired international sales rights to Channel 4 documentary Prince Philip: the Plot to Make a King. The doc launched on UK terrestrial Channel 4 at the end of June to more than two million viewers, prompting Modern Times Group-owned DRG to swoop. The show, from Blakeway, follows the tensions unleashed by […]

CTC seeks credit rating exemption

Russian broadcaster CTC Media has asked Standard & Poor’s to withdraw its credit rating service as part of what it describes as a cost-cutting exercise. S&P affirmed the Company’s ‘BB-/B’ long- and short-term corporate credit ratings and ‘ruAA-‘ Russia national scale rating and then withdrew the ratings. The outlook was stable at the time of […]

Stehmeier, Eyre exiting Off the Fence

Bo Stehmeier and Georgina Eyre are leaving distributor Off the Fence as part of a restructuring that sees the firm draft in Modern Times Group’s director of pay TV channels. OTF managing director, distribution Stehmeier (pictured) is leaving the company this month after eight years. There’s currently no word of his next post. “Bo has […]

MTG ups content execs

The Modern Times Group has promoted two of its senior programming execs. Vanda Rapti (left) is upped to senior VP of acquisitions and Christian Albeck to SVP, content partnerships and operations. Rapti has been promoted from VP of acquisitions. She buys for a range of free and pay TV channels across numerous territories. Having joined […]

Sony Pictures Television closes Film1 deal

Sony Pictures Television Networks has completed its buyout of Dutch channel group Film1 from Liberty Global, after gaining approval from the European Commission. The closing of the deal and means SPT’s channels arm now fully owns and operates the five Film1-branded pay TV channels – Film1 Premiere, Film1 Action, Film1 Comedy and Kids, Film1 Spotlight […]

UTH Russia makes $200m CTC Media bid

Russian broadcast group UTH Russia has made a formal offer to buy 75% of CTC Media for US$200 million, ahead of changes to Russian law that will limit foreign ownership of media companies. If approved, the deal will see CTC will fall in line with new legislation that will require media companies in Russia to […]

MTG pays €78m for ‘e-sports’ stake

Modern Times Group is to acquire a 74% majority stake in Cologne-based e-sports specialist Turtle Entertainment, which operates the ESL ‘e-sports’ brand. MTG cited the dramatic growth in e-sports, which is expected to attract 260 million unique viewers by the end of this year, as the key motivation for the investment. MTG’s majority stake in […]

MTG’s free TV, VOD arms join for drama

Modern Times Group’s free-to-air channel TV3 and online streaming service Viaplay are to coproduce a Nordic drama based on Finnish scripted series Black Widows. Shooting on the eight-part series, which stars Peter Stormare (Fargo) begins this summer ahead of a premiere in Sweden, Norway and Denmark next year. Stormare will play the male lead opposite […]

MTG appoints new Scandi, Viaplay CEOs

There have been wide-ranging management changes at the Modern Times Group as the free and pay TV operator reorganises its business along country lines. New territory managers positions have been created for Sweden, Denmark and Norway, MTG’s three largest markets. Anders Jensen takes becomes  CEO of MTG Sweden under the new structure, overseeing all pay […]

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