OBN Bosnia rights for Champions League
April 4, 2012
Chellomedia’s OBN, its Bosnian FTA joint venture channel, has won the rights to broadcast the UEFA Champions League for the next three seasons starting with the new Season 2012-2013. OBN has won a competitive bid, and acquired the exclusive first pick of the Wednesday night matches as well as the highlights, Semi-Finals and Final. Champions League, the prestigious event in the international sporting calendar is considered to be a prized asset for broadcasters in the territory and is extremely popular with Bosnian football fans. The presence on OBN, the leading FTA channel in Bosnia will allow for widespread reach within the country and a popular home for the event.
Mike Moriarty, Managing Director, Chello Central Europe said, “We are thrilled to have the Champions League on OBN and to bring this event to its many followers and fans in Bosnia. We will be showing Group games, as well as the Semi Final and Final; it will be a great event for families to join together and enjoy the premier competition in European football. This is just the sort of first class programming we are delighted and committed to bring to OBN and its viewers.”
Chellomedia bought a 40 per cent stake in OBN in 2011 and added the channel to its operations in Central Europe where the company has an existing portfolio of 13 channels, as well as an advertising sales business (At Media). The portfolio includes Minimax, Sport1 and Spektrum, and a joint venture with MGM. The 2011 acquisition in the Bosnian market has allowed Chello Central Europe to focus its efforts on the territory as a hub for launching and producing additional pay channels.
OBN is headquartered in Sarajevo and was founded in 1996 by the Office of the High Representative and the European Union. The station became privately owned in 2000, when it was acquired by Ivan Caleta, and received further investment in 2011 when Chellomedia purchased a 40 per cent stake.
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