NENT GROUP AND ELISA TO COMBINE STREAMING SERVICES IN FINLAND

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) and Finland’s market-leading telecoms operator Elisa, will combine their streaming services in Finland for the fourth quarter of 2020. The combined standalone service, named Elisa Viihde Viaplay, will bring Viaplay’s original Nordic productions, Hollywood films and series, and high-quality kids’ content together with Elisa Viihde Aitio’s wide array of Finnish films and original series. “We continue to break new ground in streaming with the most innovative partnerships in the market," Anders Jensen, NENT Group President, and CEO said. "Elisa Viihde Viaplay will bring together the Nordic region’s leading streaming company and a Finnish pioneer in telecoms and digital services to take streaming to the next level in Finland, a country with one of the highest broadband penetration rates in the world."

Starting 30th June, Elisa Viihde Aitio will become accessible to Viaplay "Films & Series" and "Total" customers in Finland, and Elisa Viihde Aitio customers will be able to view Viaplay’s ‘Films & Series’ package. The monthly price of both Viaplay’s ‘Films & Series’ package and Elisa Viihde Aitio will now be EUR 12.99 from EUR 9.99 and EUR 9.90, for existing customers. For new customers, the adjusted price will apply from 30 June. The price of Viaplay’s ‘Total’ package, which includes Viaplay’s premium sports offering in addition to ‘Films & Series’, will remain unchanged at EUR 34.99 per month.

Both services will continue to operate separately until further notice, though the change will occur during Q4 2020 when Elisa Viihde Viaplay. The combined streaming offering that brings together Viaplay’s ‘Films & Series’ package and Elisa Viihde Aitio’s content, will be made available. Elisa Viihde Viaplay will initially be priced at EUR 12.99 per month. The service will also offer an additional package including Viaplay’s sports content. 

The company hopes the combination of the offerings will deliver accelerated subscriber growth. NENT Group is responsible for the service’s technology and analytics, while Elisa will handle sales, marketing, and customer support. Both parties will continue to invest in content for the service. “By joining forces with NENT Group we can offer Finnish customers an exciting combination of high-quality content with a strong focus on Finnish and Nordic original series," Veli-Matti Mattila, Elisa CEO said. "We expect viewers to embrace this innovative combined service that provides extensive content and represents excellent value for money."