A new streaming service is coming to the UK this November – Viaplay, offering a combination of live sports from Premier Sports, along with original films and TV shows.
The Viaplay streaming service will include two packages in the UK: The Films & Series package which will focus on Viaplay Originals and curated third-party content, and the Total package which also includes the combined UK sports line-up of Viaplay and UK sports streamer and TV channel operator Premier Sports.
Viaplay acquired Premier Sports earlier this year, in what was a major shakeup of the TV sports landscape in the UK.
Premier Sports – and now, Viaplay – holds the rights to some of the major sporting events in the world, such as all European Qualifiers for the UEFA EURO, LaLiga, FIFA World Cup matches, over 1,000 UEFA international matches, and more.
The service will launch in the UK on November 1, 2022, and will cost £3.99/month for the Films and Series package, and £14.99/month for the Total package.
When it launches, the existing Premier Sports channels will change their names and branding, as will the free version of Premier Sports – the Freesports channel/app, which will turn into Viaplay Xtra.
Viaplay’s announcement comes in a year that’s been full of big TV sports shakeups, including the merger of BT Sport and Eurosport/Discovery, Champions League games moving to Amazon’s Prime Video, and some LaLiga matches becoming free-to-watch on ITV.
Premier Sports Becoming Viaplay Sports
Premier Sports is a set of pay-TV sports channels, that are currently available on Sky and its streaming service NOW (though not on Sky Glass), Virgin Media, and on the standalone website via the Premier Sports Player.
Last year, Premier Sports also became a Prime Video Channel, where viewers can subscribe directly for £14.99/month.
Premier Sports had a total of 222,000 paying UK subscribers to its pay-TV channels Premier Sports 1 and Premier Sports 2 and streaming service Premier Player, as of June 2022.
When Viaplay launches in November, Premier Sports 1 and Premier Sports 2 will be rebranded as Viaplay Sports 1 and Viaplay Sports 2, with the free-to-air TV channel FreeSports becoming Viaplay Xtra.
All channels will remain available through the existing distribution partners, and will continue to broadcast live sports to pubs, clubs and other commercial premises throughout the UK.
In addition, Viaplay will be available directly as a subscription app on Google’s Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV and more.
UK sports fans will be able to follow a broad range of live events on Viaplay, including all European Qualifiers for the UEFA EURO and FIFA World Cup played by the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland men’s national football teams, along with the UEFA Nations League and friendlies, until 2028.
Viaplay holds a comprehensive portfolio of rights to over 1,000 UEFA international matches from across Europe, including top-ranked teams such as Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Viaplay will also show LaLiga, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and Coppa Italia football; BKT United Rugby Championship, Rugby Football League and TOP 14 rugby; NHL, IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Champions Hockey League and Elite Ice Hockey League; CEV volleyball; KSW mixed martial arts; EHF handball; ISU figure skating and speed skating; World Athletics Continental Tour Gold and Indoor Tour; and much more.
In addition to sports, the new Viaplay streaming service will include “best of Nordic storytelling” with Nordic noir films and TV shows.
The content offering on all Premier Sports channels will be expanded to include Viaplay’s series and film line-up – which means that, somewhat peculiarly, the Viaplay sports channels on Sky and the other platforms will also air selected original dramas and films alongside sports.
Further details of the series and films available on Viaplay in the UK will be announced soon.
Anders Jensen, Viaplay Group President and CEO, said: “Viaplay will offer UK viewers a compelling combination of live sports, world-class drama and superior value for money.
“We are launching in this dynamic and exciting market with high ambitions and a long-term perspective, and acquiring Premier Sports will significantly accelerate our entry.
“Viaplay has so much to offer, and local sports fans as well as devotees of premium Nordic and international storytelling can now try our unique service for themselves, starting 1 November”.
So do they have la liga on there platform next year at £14 month. Or have BT got it
This is an absolute disgrace. They will have no customers and realise that they have to do some kind of 7.50 deal which will probably end after 3 months and then its full price again. Are these the same people that came up with European super league idea?
I have to admit publicly that I said I wouldn’t subscribe but I have given in. I have subscribed to the full package for £99 per year (£8.25 per month) as I am interested in the Spanish football and can find no other reliable, legal way of watching it. (Emphasis on reliable). That price compares favourably with prices of £143 per year or £14.99 per month that I have seen online. I’ve had a look at the Scandanavian drama and cinema offer but it really isn’t my cup of tea therefore I’m paying for quality programming (!!!) that I will never watch. So, I’m sorry to say that I have sold my soul to Big Money.
No! In the end I did the right thing and cancelled. Sadly, I’m an ex-Premier Sports/La Liga subscriber. But happily, I’m an ex-Viaplay subscriber.
Totally agree. As a LaLiga TV stand-alone subscriber with Premier, I have the privilege of enjoying Viaplay until March. Having seen what’s on offer, I have already cancelled my renewal at the over-inflated price being demanded by Viaplay which would offer me endless ice-hockey and nordic series/films, none of which are of the least interest to me. Interesting to note the bargain basement price for those series/films without the sports channels. Says a lot about what Viaplay are offering and how, like all their rivals, they are taking sports fans for mugs.
The worst thing is that there is only 48 hrs available for rugby. Lots to watch, but realistically you can only watch a couple of games before they disappear. Also…..I paid for 1 year premier sports in sep 2022 with unlimited catchup. That’s what I wanted, and that’s what I paid for. Is that a violation of contract?
Great idea , we are all cold and penniless , hard enough to stay warm the now and your wanting 15 quid , very good 😳
Why I can not get only la liga TV like on Premier Sports for £5’99?
Totally agreed with you.That’s what I had with Premier Sports.
£14.99!! I think whoever signed off on the pricing structure needs to go and have a lie down in a dark room and have a word with themselves……
Why can I not have the sport for £90 as before with no drama
If Premier Sports have taken £120 for 12 months of sky services which I no longer have leaving me with the erratic premiersports player where does that leave me.
FIFTEEN?!
Thats absurd; expecting £15 for not alot of premium sport and a hell-of-a-lot of nordic series/films…
Under a tenner perhaps, but £14.99 to get sport just priced alot of potential customers well and truly out, myself included.