Published on December 1st, 2022
Location: Global
Viaplay announced as IHF's exclusive streaming partner
Viaplay Group and the International Handball Federation (IHF) have agreed a landmark partnership that makes the Viaplay streaming service home to the IHF’s hugely popular competitions in 10 European countries until 2031.
Fans will be able to stream more than 40 IHF events live and exclusively on Viaplay over the coming years, including all upcoming IHF Women’s and Men’s World Championships. The deal brokered by SPORTFIVE covers Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, the Netherlands, the Baltic countries, and the UK – a footprint spanning many of the world’s leading handball nations.
The agreement secures the IHF Men's World Championships for the next nine years: 2023 (Poland and Sweden), 2025 (Croatia, Denmark and Norway), 2027, 2029 and 2031, and the IHF Women's World Championships in 2023 (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), 2025 (Germany and the Netherlands), 2027, 2029 and 2031.
“This milestone deal ensures Viaplay will deliver the world’s best handball to many of the sport’s biggest markets throughout this decade and beyond.”
Peter Nørrelund, Viaplay Group Chief Sports Officer
The partnership will see a wide range of matches, including all games featuring teams from Viaplay markets, shown with local commentators and premium studio programming.
In addition, Viaplay now holds the rights to several games: the next four IHF Women’s Junior (U20) World Championships and IHF Women’s Youth (U18) World Championships; the next five IHF Men’s Junior (U21) World Championships and IHF Men’s Youth (U19) World Championships; the IHF Men’s & Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030; and the annual IHF Beach Handball Global Tour.
The partnership was brokered by SPORTFIVE, long-time partner and exclusive marketer of the global media rights as well as the marketing rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031. The Viaplay Group had previously acquired the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish rights to the IHF Men's and Women's World Championships in 2023 and 2025 under a separate agreement.
Peter Nørrelund, Viaplay Group Chief Sports Officer: “This milestone deal ensures Viaplay will deliver the world’s best handball to many of the sport’s biggest markets throughout this decade and beyond. Denmark are the reigning men’s world champions and four-time winners Norway are undisputed queens of the women’s game. Numerous upcoming IHF tournaments will also be home events for millions of our viewers, which will increase local interest even further. These are key rights that are now secured for the long term on Viaplay.”
“Viaplay is not only one of the fastest growing streaming companies in the world, but also a network that is truly dedicated to handball.”
Karsten Mahlmann, Vice President Media at SPORTFIVE
Dr. Hassan Moustafa, President of IHF says, “we are delighted to announce that the IHF have joined forces and partnered up with Viaplay Group. Thanks to our partnership with the official IHF TV and Marketing Rights Partner SPORTFIVE, we were able to realise this agreement, which allows us to spread the enthusiasm for handball events to more countries and people and, equally importantly, with guaranteed quality and for the long term.”
“Viaplay is both one of the fastest growing streaming companies in the world, and a company that is truly dedicated to handball. With this long-term partnership, the IHF Senior, Junior, Youth and Beach Handball World Championships get a reliable partner that will broadcast the world's best handball competitions in some of the most important handball territories, as well in emerging European handball markets, and provide a professional and high-profile platform for the sport. We are proud to have brokered this outstanding partnership”, Karsten Mahlmann adds, Vice President Media at SPORTFIVE.
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About SPORTFIVE
SPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that delivers customer-centric solutions based on trust and transparency, deep industry experience and global relationships, digital intelligence and innovation. SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans to create and enable contemporary partnerships in sports.
While creating and growing long-term value for all, SPORTFIVE often leads the sports business into the future through innovative digital solutions and strives to be the most progressive and respected partner in sports.
Being at the centre of professional sport SPORTFIVE will use its unique position, in order to make a positive contribution to sustainability and to live up to the social and economic duty and responsibility, which sport and consequently all parties involved, also have. SPORTFIVE operates with a global mindset and network of over 1,200 local experts based in 15 countries around the world, active in Football, Golf, Esports, Motorsport, Handball, Tennis, American Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Rugby, Olympics and Multi-Sport Events and many more.
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About VIAPLAY GROUP AB
Viaplay Group AB (publ) is the international entertainment provider. Our Viaplay streaming service is available direct-to-consumer in every Nordic and Baltic country, Poland, the Netherlands, and the UK, and we are expanding rapidly by launching in the US and Canada in 2023. Every day, millions of customers enjoy our unique entertainment offering, including acclaimed Viaplay Originals and an unrivalled line-up of premium live sports. In addition, our innovative Viaplay Select branded content concept makes Viaplay’s compelling storytelling available to partners around the world. From streaming to TV channels, radio stations and production companies, our purpose is to tell stories, touch lives and expand worlds. Viaplay Group is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘VPLAY B’).
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About IHF
Established in 1946, the International Handball Federation (IHF) is the governing body of global handball and its disciplines. Representing 209 Member Federations, the IHF is the organiser of all indoor, beach and wheelchair handball World Championships.
With the aim to continuously develop and grow the Olympic sport of handball and its disciplines all over the world, the IHF has initiated several global projects that focus on cooperation and education to raise the global level of the sport.
Promoting the Olympic values, the IHF seeks to unite the handball community as we all work towards one common goal: a peaceful and better world through sport.
Press contacts
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Louisa Grotkamp
Senior Manager Marketing Communications
louisa.grotkamp@sportfive.com -
Kristin Podewils
Senior Manager Marketing Communications
kristin.podewils@sportfive.com
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