MTG launches pay-TV channels in Africa

2 Mar 2011

The Modern Times Group (MTG), an international entertainment broadcasting group, on Monday, 28 February 2011, launched four pay-TV channels in Africa. Viasat History, Viasat Nature, Viasat Explorer and Viasat Crime are initially available to satellite pay-TV subscribers in Nigeria and cable pay-TV subscribers in Kenya.

The channels are localised versions of Viasat Broadcasting's existing thematic documentary channels. Three of the channels are currently available in 29 countries across Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. Each channel will be broadcast 12 hours per day, with Viasat History and Viasat Nature sharing one satellite feed, and Viasat Explorer and Viasat Crime sharing another. Distribution agreements have initially been signed with the HiTV and Infinity TV satellite networks in Nigeria, and with cable network operator Zuku in Kenya.

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President and CEO of MTG, commented: "The launch of four of our documentary channels in Africa is the latest example of our strategy to launch tried and tested formats in new territories. Our intention is to make our channels as broadly available as possible in these rapidly developing TV markets and economies. We already have a free-TV operation in Ghana in West Africa, and look forward to developing our presence in the sub-Saharan region of Africa moving forward."