SBS Broadcasting Group

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

This article is about the defunct broadcasting company. For the current status of its assets in Nordic region, see Discovery Communications Nordic. For its former branch in the Netherlands, see Talpa TV. For other uses, see SBS.

SBS Broadcasting Group
Private
FateAcquired by ProSiebenSat.1 Media; Nordic operations resold to Discovery Communications
Founded1989
HeadquartersLuxembourg
Websitewww.sbsbroadcasting.com (offline)

SBS operated in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), Bulgaria, Greece, Finland, Hungary, The Netherlands, and Romania.

Belgium is the only country where SBS is still operating.

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 10 November 2011. On 7 March 2019 they copyright claimed a video by Philip DeFranco

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
  • VIER (literally: Four)
  • VIJF (literally: Five)
  • ZES (literally: Six)

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 1 January 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 1 January 2009, SBS NET will be re-branded as "6'eren". "The Voice TV Denmark" was partially re-branded "7'eren" from 1 January 2012.

  • Kanal 4
  • Kanal 5
  • The Voice TV Denmark (Music, replaced by 7'eren)
  • 6'eren (formerly SBS NET)

Finland

Hungary

TV2 is owned jointly by SBS and MTM.

  • TV2

Macedonia

Netherlands

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

Norway

Romania
  • Prima TV (also broadcast by cable in Moldova)
  • Kiss TV (known as TV K Lumea before November 2006, now owned by Antenna Group)

Portugal
  • TVI (1996–1999)

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

  • TV3 (Switzerland) (defunct, 1999–2001)

Italy

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

  • Rete Mia (defunct, 1997–1999)

Radio stations

Denmark
  • The Voice – (Rhythmic CHR) Hit music
  • POP FM – adult contemporary (AC) mix of 1960s to 1990s songs
  • NOVA FM – (Hot AC) Hit music, the joint channel of TV2 and SBS. SBS runs it and TV2 brings the news from TV2 NEWS.
  • TV 2 Radio – SBS bought it, after TV 2 sold it out. Now, it is a joint venture between TV 2 and SBS Radio A/S.

Greece
  • Lampsi 92.3 FM (now owned by Attica editions)

Norway

Romania

The Romanian stations have been bought by Antenna Group

  • Kiss FM (previously known as Radio Contact, available in Moldova with local insertions)
  • Magic FM
  • One FM
  • Rock FM

Sweden

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

  • Mix Megapol – (AC) Mix of hits and oldies - National network
  • Rockklassiker – (Classic Rock) - National network
  • The Voice – (Rhythmic CHR) Hit music targeting young people in Stockholm.
  • Radio 107.5 – (Rhythmic CHR) Dance from the 1990s and 2000s for Stockholm
  • Vinyl 107 – (Oldies) music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s on FM in Stockholm

Print
  • Veronica (TV/Radio guide)

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. 4 September 2006. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2019 – 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. 22 August 2005. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  4. Szalai, Georg (9 April 2013). "Discovery Communications Completes $1.7 Billion SBS Nordic Acquisition". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  5. http://www.fd.nl/artikel/21975607/behouden-huis (subscription required)
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