Viaplay to exit most international markets (inc U.K.) [Split from Sports Extra]

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Sports Extra (TNT/Premier).

icdg

Viaplay are quitting all non-Nordic markets except the Netherlands, although they’ve no immediate plans other than shutting the Baltic operations. They’ll be looking for a sale or partner elsewhere.

Omar C

VIAPLAY USA.

Is up for sell aswell. Going forwards, Viaplay will discontinue its low tier non-sports offering in the likes of the U.S. and UK and focus on the Nordic and Dutch markets, along with the sale of content internationally via Viaplay Select

Source https://deadline.com/2023/07/viaplay-layoffs-strategic-review-pulls-out-of-uk-mulls-a-sale-1235442717/

Omar C

Please see page 16 on this presentation

https://www.viaplaygroup.com/sites/default/files/pr/20230720_viaplay_report_presentation_q22023.pdf

icdg

Bold is only for moderators Omar C, thanks.

Omar C

Ok mods 👍🏻🌞🌞

Omar C

VIAPLAY..

I just wonder what will happen to priemier sport Ireland now??

Source ,

https://rxtvinfo.com/2023/viaplay-announces-cuts/

icdg

Nothing, they’re not affected by this, they are owned by Setanta Sports not Viaplay.

Omar C

Thanks mods..

Omar C

Viaplay has announced far-reaching changes to its strategy including letting go of over 25% of its employees and switching its focus to core Nordic, Netherlands and Viaplay Select operations.

https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2023/07/20/viaplay-to-shed-over-25-of-workforce-and-exit-markets/

Infoanon

The Viaplay presentation makes for very interesting reading with its detail on subscription numbers and advertising income.

An exit from the UK market is assumed by 2024 , I assume the non-sports content exit is more immediate.

The exit will be by disposal of the business or sub licencing .

Who will want the sports rights that Viaplay hold ?

That the future strategy for the Viaplay Group is based on increased subscription rates doesn't bode well for the operation.

Premier are the only winners from this.

dulpit

The Irish network seems to be able to hang on no matter what happens with the UK side of things. Same with setanta in previous times...

Omar C

Viaplay have pulled OUT of all UK sport coverage as part of a raft of cost-cutting measures, leaving Scotland national team games facing a blackout.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/viaplay-pull-out-scottish-football-30509814?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

channelsurfer2

The Lads at Premier know when to leave the market and sell up. I think a price of circa 30million was mentioned for the uk assets of Premier Sports .

I cant see them buying out Viaplay and re-entering the UK as its too hard to make money as a niche player.

channelsurfer2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120874655#Comment_120874655

The platform’s menu of Nordic drama and live sport was a curious one, but it had established a solid portfolio of rights boosted by the UK£30 million (US$38.7 million) acquisition of Premier Sports. This included the United Rugby Championship (URC), the National Hockey League (NHL), the Scottish Cup, LaLiga, Uefa’s international qualifiers, as well as handball, winter sports and darts.

Source- sports pro media today extract rather than full article as per rules..

icdg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120873744#Comment_120873744

That headline is massively sensationalist and misleading. They are not gone yet. They intend to leave, but would prefer to find a buyer or partner first. It’s not the case that they closed down the service at 6am this morning or anything, it could be going for another few months yet.

icdg

Interestingly enough Canal+ has taken a 12% stake in Stockholm listed Viaplay Group tonight. Precursor to a takeover bid perhaps.

Infoanon

There is an irony here in that Canal was one of the original Nordic pay operators but eventually left the market with its operation renamed allente and now owned 50% by Viaplay !

The Viaplay share price crashed today by 48.66% which effectively is investors doubting that the revised strategy is going to work.

The impact of the canal 12% purchase (and how much it cost) is not yet known.

Sale as a going concern is probably the best outcome for Viaplay but who would be interested in it - the potential subscribers are insufficient to cover the rights cost .

Worst case scenario for subscribers is a takeover by DAZN , best outcome ?- rights being transferred to Sky / TNT but there are complications with Premier and it's Irish rights.

icdg

The complication really is that all of Viaplay’s rights are U.K. only. That makes a purchase by Sky or TNT difficult in terms of having to split their sports channels in the U.K. and Ireland. Not an impossibility and TNT could use discovery+. It’s hard to know what will happen really. Would would be a disaster for a number of sporting organisations, not least the URC, is if no buyer could be found. Viaplay also still have about 20 staff in Dublin, even though they don’t trade here.

timothydec77

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120878294#Comment_120878294

Anyone buying the Assets of Viaplay would just buy both Viaplay and Premier Sports.

icdg

Would they? Presumes Premier Sports (a completely separate entity) would want to sell. Now I have no doubt they would at the right price - eir clearly offered the right price for the original Setanta Ireland to the same people a few years back - but Viaplay UK is effectively being sold in a fire sale and while they’ll want to recoup as much of that £30m as they can their primary concern is to get out now and stop throwing good money after bad, whereas Premier will want to make some money on a sale.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120879018#Comment_120879018

Could Premier Sports buy back viaplay a reducded price if it is a fire sale?

Infoanon

What value does Viaplay UK have ?, its subscriber / revenue base falls well short of the amounts to be paid out on rights , heavily discounted prices have not stopped the churn and advertising income is well below what was expected.

The EPG numbers have no value in a market where there is no demand , all Viaplay can do is off load the rights to stop the increasing losses.

The £30m spent to acquire Premier UK appears to have been already written off within the (staggering ) half year losses figures.

dublinman1990

There was a possibility that if Sky/TNT Sports make a purchase on sports rights agreements from Viaplay. They could break competition law under rules of the CMA in the UK. There was also from people discussing this various forums in the UK for more matches from the URC could be spread out to FTA broadcasters like the BBC in Scotland, Wales and NI with the potential of Channel 4 and Channel 5 taking them up as well. If Viaplay want to make any sort of money to get them the stem the current financial losses of their channels; is that strategy for the URC do-able for Viaplay in the short term?