A breakdown in negotiations could lead to Telia customers losing access to Viaplay’s channels, including TV3, TV6, and popular sports networks, as well as the streaming service itself.
If the channels disappear, Telia subscribers will miss out on coverage of the Premier League and Champions League soccer, NHL hockey, and the resumption of the Ski World Cup following the Olympics. The Formula 1 season is set to begin in March, along with Sweden’s playoff matches for the FIFA World Cup – all broadcast rights currently held by Viaplay.
Streaming services like Viaplay distribute content both directly to consumers and through distributors like Telia. The current dispute centers on how much Telia will pay to carry Viaplay’s offerings and which rights will be included in various packages.
The two companies have clashed over contract terms before. In 2022, a prolonged and contentious conflict resulted in a blackout lasting two and a half months before an agreement was reached. At that time, Telia attempted to compensate viewers with content from other streaming services, including HBO Max and Netflix.
Viaplay was also involved in a similar dispute with distributor Tele2 last year, but that was resolved before service was interrupted.
