MTG ACQUIRES tv8 Modern Times Group MTG AB will take over TV8. Today, the Swedish investment company Ratos agreed to transfer its entire shareholding in TV8 to MTG. The holding corresponds to 80% of the capital and votes in the channel. "For MTG, TV8 fits perfectly in the package of channels that Viasat supplies to the satellite-TV market. We want to offer our TV viewers a complete selection," says Pelle Törnberg, president and CEO of MTG. Since 1998, TV8 has been one of the channels bundled in the Viasat Gold and Viasat Silver packages. MTG's acquisition of the channel guarantees that it will continue to be available in the packages. "As a high quality broadcaster, TV8 is also a key component in our strategy of investment in financial information," Törnberg notes. In the past year, MTG has acquired the newspaper FinansTidningen, started the business magazine Kapital, and taken over Dolly, a business magazine about people and ideas. TV8 will become part of the Viasat Broadcasting business area, which includes TV3, ZTV, TV6, Viasat Sport, and 3+. The area also administrates subscriptions for TV1000 and Cinema. Viasat's packages also include several channels produced by third parties. Until now, TV8 was a third-party channel, alongside Nickelodeon, VH-1, MTV, Hallmark, Travel, and Playboy. For additional information, please contact Pelle Törnberg, president and CEO of MTG, at +46-8-5620 0050 or Peder Ramel, vice president of Viasat Broadcasting, at +46-70-743 74 01. Modern Times Group MTG AB is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's O list (symbol: MTG) and on the Nasdaq National Market in New York (symbol: MTGNY). ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/08/30/19990830BIT00270/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/08/30/19990830BIT00270/bit0002.pdf