Telia Company, a prominent Nordic telecommunications giant, has agreed to sell its TV and media business, including Sweden’s TV4 and Finland’s MTV, to Schibsted Media for SEK 6.55 billion ($613 million). The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Telia acquired TV4 and MTV in 2018 through the acquisition of Bonnier Broadcasting.
However, the company has now decided to divest these assets to prioritize its core telecommunications business. Patrik Hofbauer, Telia Company’s President and CEO, said, “We have an opportunity to secure a new home for TV and Media with a strategic long-term Nordic owner that can further develop the business while maintaining its editorial independence.”
Schibsted Media, based in Oslo, Norway, owns major news brands such as VG, Aftenposten, Aftonbladet, and Svenska Dagbladet, among other media businesses in the Nordic region.
Telia focuses on core telecom business
With this acquisition, Schibsted will integrate TV4 and MTV’s ad-funded and pay-TV channels, including their streaming platforms TV4 Play and MTV Katsomo. Siv Juvik Tveitnes, Schibsted CEO, emphasized the significance of this acquisition, stating, “As competition with global tech giants intensifies, building comprehensive and nationally rooted media positions with scale and investment capacity is more important than ever to safeguard editorial independence. This agreement marks a considerable step toward forming a leading Nordic media destination.”
Telia’s TV & Media business employs around 1,200 individuals who will transition under the new ownership.
Despite the sale, Telia will continue to distribute TV4 and MTV’s content in Sweden and Finland, respectively, as part of a multi-year partnership. The transaction reflects ongoing consolidation and restructuring within the media industry, aiming to create strong regional media entities capable of competing on a global scale. Telia’s financial projections for 2025-2027 remain unchanged following this strategic move.
