MTG preps film, US drama nets

Scandinavian broadcast giant MTG is launching two new channels for subscribers across the Nordics.

Viasat Series and Viasat Film Hits will start airing on November 10, with the former offering shows including Empire, Blue Blood, Californication and House of Lies. It will launch in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, with shows also available on MTG’s online streaming service Viaplay.

Viasat Film Hits, available in the three Scandi countries and Finland, will air movies including The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay – Part 1, Tootsie, local dramas such as Børning and classics including Braveheart.

“Viasat Series and Viasat Film Hits strengthen our proposition, showcasing the most talked-about, the most desirable and the best-loved content on the market,” said Jakob Mejlhede Andersen, MTG exec VP and head of programming and content development.

In related news, MTG is renaming its Viasat Film channel as Viasat Film Premiere, while Viasat Nature’s primetime schedule will be extended and will replace Viasat Crime. Crime series will now be shown on Viasat Series and Viaplay.

“Great content deserves easy access, which is why we make all content available on Viaplay, so consumers get real choice in how to access their entertainment,” added Mejlhede Andersen.

The changes come after a turbulent 12 months for MTG, which has been hit by regulatory changes in Russia and lay-offs across its European operations as it looks to cut costs.