NENT Group to launch Viaplay in five new markets

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) announced that it will launch its Viaplay streaming service in five new markets by the end of 2023. First, Viaplay will launch in the UK in the second half of 2022, and then in Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland during 2023. Therefore, Viaplay will then be present in a total of 16 countries, compared with the original target of 15 announced in November 2020.

NENT Group has also increased its target for the total number of Viaplay subscribers by the end of 2025 from approximately 10.5 million to approximately 12 million, of which approximately 6 million are now expected to come from international markets, compared with the original target of approximately 4.5 million.

Viaplay’s accelerated expansion, in combination with successful recent launches in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, and upcoming launches in the United States and the Netherlands, is now expected to contribute to group compound annual organic sales growth in 2020-2025 in the upper end of the previously provided target range of approximately 18-20%.

Furthermore, the ongoing positive development of the group’s Nordic operations is now expected to result in compound annual organic sales growth in 2020-2025 in the upper end of the previously provided target range of approximately 13-15%, with Viaplay growing at a compound annual rate of approximately 23-25% in the Nordic region over the same period.

The Nordic operations are expected to have a significantly higher EBIT margin of approximately 15% in 2025, and a long term 20% margin potential. NENT Group’s accelerated investments in new market launches, premium sports rights and original content have increased both the revenue and subscriber growth potential, as well as the cost base, for the international operations. These businesses are still expected to make a positive EBIT contribution in 2025, and are now also expected to have an EBIT margin of approximately 15% in 2026, with a long term 25% margin potential. Total accumulated losses to breakeven for the international operations are expected to be approximately SEK 3.8 billion. The company’s expansion is fully funded following the SEK 4.35 billion equity raise in February 2021.

“We have stepped up the pace and scale of Viaplay’s international expansion. We have acquired virtually all of the international sports rights that we targeted and for multiple cycles in several cases; added one more market to our roll-out ambition; signed innovative partnership agreements; and raised the bar when it comes to our investments in original content. As a result, we are increasing our subscriber and revenue growth targets, as well as our target profitability levels. We are investing more short term to create even higher long term returns due to the considerable operating leverage that this creates. We are investing in this growth right now, in order to capitalize on the opportunity created as the shift to streaming video consumption continues to accelerate, and demand for high quality and locally relevant stories increases,”  said Anders Jensen, President and CEO of NENT Group.

“Viaplay is a proven success story, with a unique content offering and one of the world’s most flexible and scalable technology platforms. Viaplay is already our largest revenue generator, and will already account for more than half of the group’s revenues in a couple of years’ time. We aim to be the most diverse and inclusive storyteller with our amazing range of original, acquired, local and live content that offers something special for everyone. And we take an open approach to partnering that ensures Viaplay is available as broadly as possible. This is a unique value creation story,”  Jensen added.

At launch, Viaplay’s offering in the five new markets will comprise Nordic, local and international series, films, documentaries and kids content, both original and acquired. The company may also add selected sports rights to the Viaplay offering in future for some of the new European territories. Viaplay will be available in the new markets on a direct-to-consumer basis, as well as through partnerships with local distributors.