SBS Broadcasting Group

SBS Broadcasting Group
Private
Fate Acquired by ProSiebenSat.1 Media; Nordic operations resold to Discovery Communications
Founded 1989
Headquarters Luxembourg
Parent Disney/ABC Television Group (23%)
Website www.sbsbroadcasting.com (offline)

SBS Broadcasting Group (normally referred to as SBS, which originally stood for Scandinavian Broadcasting Systems) was a European and Dutch broadcasting group, operating commercial television, premium pay channels, radio stations and related print businesses in Northern, Western and Central and Eastern Europe.

SBS has broadcasting services in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, The Netherlands, and Romania.

History

By July 1994, the time of the CC/ABC-Disney merger, Capital Cities/ABC owned 23% of SBS.[1]

SBS was controlled by funds advised by two private equity firms, Permira and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Telegraaf Media Groep N.V. (TMG) of the Netherlands was also a shareholder in SBS, with a 20% equity interest.[2] In 2005, SBS was bought by the equity firms Permira and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR).[3] They also bought the German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media in early 2007, and on 27 June 2007 it was announced that ProSiebenSat.1 Media acquired the SBS Broadcasting group for 3.3 billion euros from the joint owners. ProSiebenSat.1 Media became the second largest broadcaster of Europe with 48 TV stations. On 14 December 2012 Discovery Communications bought the Nordic portion of SBS for $1.7 billion.[4]

SBS was founded by Harry E. Sloan who bought a stake in the Danish station Kanal 2 (Copenhagen) and Norwegian TVNorge. In 1991, Sloan bought the Swedish Nordic Channel, which was soon renamed Kanal 5 and became the third largest commercial broadcaster in the country. The company was originally known as "TV1", but was renamed "Scandinavian Broadcasting Systems" in 1991. After expanding into Benelux and Eastern Europe, the name was changed again, this time to SBS. In the end of 2011 ProSiebenSat.1 Group has sold its Bulgarian radio stations as well as the music channel the Voice TV to A.E. Best Success Services Bulgaria EOOD. The transaction was closed on November 10, 2011.

Television

Television operations started in 1989 in Scandinavia. In March 2005 SBS acquired C More Entertainment, a Nordic pay tv provider operating under the Canal+ brand, which is now controlled by Sweden's largest broadcaster TV4. C More provides premium sports and movie channels in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland under the Canal+ and the now defunct C More brand.

Belgium

The Dutch channels have been bought by De Vijver (mother company of Woestijnvis).

Bulgaria

Denmark

The general entertainment network "TV Danmark" was launched in 1997. It was renamed "TV Danmark 2" when the sister channel "TV Danmark 1" was launched. When "TV Danmark 1" was renamed "Kanal 5", the first channel reverted to its old name before becoming "Kanal 4" in 2006. On January 1, 2007, the terrestrial Kanal 4 signals were replaced by a new channel called "SBS NET", while Kanal 4 continued broadcasting by satellite and cable. Starting January 1, 2009, SBS NET will be re-branded as "6'eren". "The Voice TV Denmark" was partially re-branded "7'eren" from January 1, 2012.

Hungary

TV2 is owned jointly by SBS and MTM.

Macedonia

Netherlands

The Dutch channels have been bought by Sanoma and Talpa Media Holding (through SBS Broadcasting) on 20 April 2011.[5]

Norway

Romania

Portugal

Serbia

RTV Pink is owned jointly by Pink International Company

Sweden

Swedish headquarters of Kanal 5 and Kanal 9

Switzerland

TV3 was owned jointly with Tamedia and SBS Broadcasting

Italy

Rete Mia was owned jointly with Internova, Profit, and Videopiù

Radio stations

Bulgaria

Denmark

Greece

Norway

Romania

The Romanian stations have been bought by Antenna Group

Sweden

SBS has several local commercial radio licenses. The main network is called Mix Megapol and has several stations around the country.

Print

References

  1. ↑ "FACT SHEET: THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY". Press Release. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "SBS Broadcasting Acquires Leading Music TV Channel in Romania.". PR Newswire. September 4, 2006. Retrieved November 6, 2016 – via TheFreeDictionary.com.
  3. ↑ "SBS Broadcasting to be Acquired By Permira and KKR in Transaction Valuing the Company at Approximately euro 2.1 Billion ($2.5 Billion)". PR Newswire. August 22, 2005. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  4. ↑ Szalai, Georg (April 9, 2013). "Discovery Communications Completes $1.7 Billion SBS Nordic Acquisition". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  5. ↑ http://www.fd.nl/artikel/21975607/behouden-huis
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