Viaplay Group, in which the Czech group PPF along with the French Canal+ holds a significant share, has concluded an agreement to sell its activities in the Netherlands. The buyer is the Belgian media group DPG Media, which will pay 142 million euros (approximately CZK 3.6 billion) for the Dutch division. The transaction, which must be confirmed by regulatory authorities, represents a definitive retreat from global expansion and a return to its roots in the Scandinavian market.
The move comes after a period of aggressive international expansion that proved to be financially unsustainable. Viaplay had previously withdrawn from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Baltic States. The Dutch transaction also includes the transfer under the wing of the Videoland platform, which falls under DPG Media. The sale is crucial for the Swedish group in terms of balance sheet recovery, even though the Dutch market generated revenues of 149 million euros last year.
The sale also includes valuable broadcasting rights for attractive sports broadcasts. Viaplay in the Netherlands currently holds licenses for Formula 1 (until 2029), the English Premier League (until the 2027/28 season), the German Bundesliga, and PDC darts tournaments. These rights were the main draw for Dutch subscribers, but now they will serve to financially stabilize the entire group.
“The sale is in line with our strategic transformation and the priority to focus the group's operations on our key Nordic markets, where we have the greatest scale and synergies. The proceeds from the sale will allow us to accelerate deleveraging and strengthen the group's financial profile,” said Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, President and CEO of Viaplay Group.
While the group is retreating in Europe, it is conversely strengthening its position in its home Nordic region. For example, it recently extended the rights for the NHL ice hockey league for the Nordic countries until the 2030/31 season. For PPF and Canal+, which entered the weakened company as strategic investors, the sale of the Dutch division means another step in the restructuring aimed at returning the company to profitability after a turbulent 2023.