Telia Company has agreed to sell its TV & Media business, including TV4 in Sweden and MTV in Finland, to Schibsted Media for SEK 6.55 billion on a cash and debt-free basis.
This move aligns with Telia’s strategy to focus on its core connectivity business in the Nordic and Baltic regions. The transaction is expected to close by the third-quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. Telia will be maintaining a multi-year partnership to distribute TV4 and MTV content as part of its consumer TV offering.
Telia CEO Patrik Hofbauer emphasized the company’s commitment to world-class connectivity while ensuring TV & Media finds a strong, Nordic-based strategic owner. The sale proceeds will be used for deleveraging, and Telia will classify TV & Media as held for sale and discontinued operations in Q1 2025, recognizing a non-cash impairment of approximately SEK 2 billion.
Telia’s mid-term financial goals for 2025-2027 remain unchanged, though its 2025 free cash flow outlook is adjusted from SEK 8 billion to around SEK 7.5 billion to exclude TV & Media’s contribution. Other financial targets, including 2 percent service revenue growth, at least 5 percent adjusted EBITDA growth, and CAPEX below SEK 14 billion, remain intact.
Schibsted Media, founded in 1839 and headquartered in Oslo, owns Nordic news brands, including VG, Aftonbladet, and Svenska Dagbladet. Schibsted Media CEO Siv Juvik Tveitnes highlighted the strategic importance of the acquisition in strengthening locally rooted media against global tech competition while preserving editorial independence.
The TV & Media business includes TV4’s advertising-funded and pay-TV channels, the TV4 Play streaming service, and digital platforms like Fotbollskanalen and Köket in Sweden. In Finland, it includes MTV’s TV channels and MTV Katsomo streaming service. The business has approximately 1,200 employees across both countries.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
