nc+ secures exclusive TV deal in Poland

EHF Marketing, the marketing arm of the European Handball Federation, has today announced a two-year broadcast deal with Poland`s leading premium pay TV platform nc+ in a deal brokered by media rights agency MP & Silva.

The exclusive agreement will see nc+ broadcast the VELUX EHF Champions League and Women’s EHF Champions League, Europe’s premier club handball competitions, across Poland.

Top matches involving non-Polish teams will also be broadcast from each round of the two competitions as part of the agreement with nc+. The platform will offer extensive coverage across all digital media platforms and devices, including television, mobile and internet.

The first game of the season for nc+ viewers will be on Thursday, 29 August on nSport as Wisla Plock play Montpellier in the first leg of wild card qualification. Polish handball fans will also enjoy extensive coverage throughout the season of Vive Targi Kielce in the VELUX EHF Champions League and MKS Lublin in the Women’s EHF Champions League.

The deal seeks to build on nc+ existing sports offerings, which currently include rights to broadcast football competitions: the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, Polish T-Mobile Ekstraklasa as well as English, French, Italian and Spanish premier football leagues. On its channels, viewers can also watch speedway, basketball and tennis.

Peter Vargo, Managing Director of EHF Marketing GmbH, said: “Poland is a key market for handball and the EHF Champions League, and more so since the success of KS Vive Targi Kielce in reaching last season’s VELUX EHF FINAL4. We are looking forward to further improving our coverage with nc+ and MP & Silva to grow our audience in this rapidly developing market.”

Julien Verley, CEO of the nc+ platform, said: “Every year the EHF Champions League gains more international attention and it will be another great addition to the nc+ range of leading national and international sports content. The acquisition continues our strategy to create a strong and diversified sports offering. Considering the rise of Polish handball teams in the competitions, this gives us a great opportunity to bring to viewers one of the most formidable handball leagues. We are thrilled to have acquired the broadcasting rights of the EHF’s top club competitions and we look forward to contributing to the growing interest in handball in Poland.”

Andrea Radrizzani, MP & Silva Group CEO, said: “This new partnership between EHF Marketing and nc+ underlines our ability to offer compelling content for broadcasters and business solutions for rights holders. We look forward to continue working with EHF Marketing to explore new markets to further build on the profile of the league globally.”

MP & Silva was appointed by EHF Marketing GmbH in June 2013 to be its exclusive international distributor of the media rights of its top club competitions for a seven-year period. The multi-media rights cover cable, satellite, terrestrial, betting, mobile and internet platforms from the season 2013/2014.

About nc+

Poland`s leading premium pay TV platform nc+ holds the rights to broadcast football competitions: UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Polish T-Mobile Ekstraklasa, Premier League, Primera Division, Ligue 1 and Serie A. On its channels, viewers can also watch speedway (Enea Ekstraliga and the Grand Prix series), handball (men’s and women’s EHF Champions League), basketball (NBA and WNBA) and tennis (Davis Cup matches and tournaments). Major studio deals include Paramount, Dreamworks, Fox, Universal and MGM as well as local distributors Kino Swiat and Monolith.