SBS Broadcasting Group (SBS), formerly Scandinavian Broadcasting Systems, was a European multinational media group, operating commercial television, premium pay channels, radio stations and related print businesses in Northern, Western and Central and Eastern Europe. It became the second-largest broadcaster in Europe.
History SBS was founded by Harry E. Sloan in 1989, who bought a stake in the Danish station (a local station in Copenhagen, now Kanal 4) 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. By July 1994, the time of the CC/ABC-Disney merger, Capital Cities/ABC owned 23% of SBS.
In March 2005, SBS acquired C More Entertainment, a Nordic pay tv provider operating under the Canal+ brand. In that year, SBS was bought by the equity firms Permira and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). Telegraaf Media Groep of the Netherlands was also a shareholder in SBS, with a 20% equity interest. Permira and KKR 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.
Starting in 2011, ProSiebenSat.1 Media started to sell its non-German properties. The Dutch operations have been bought by Sanoma and Talpa Media Holding on 20 April 2011.http://www.fd.nl/artikel/21975607/behouden-huis 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 14 December 2012, Discovery Communications bought the Nordic portion of SBS for $1.7 billion. The radio stations were later sold to Bauer Media Group. The Romanian TV and radio operations were bought by Romanian businessman Cristian Burci and Antenna Group in 2013.
Former operations This section lists former channels and publications until the company's acquisition in 2007.
Television Belgium VT4 (later Play4, now Play) VIJFtv (later Play5, now Play Fictie) Bulgaria The Voice (Bulgaria) Denmark Kanal 4 Kanal 5 SBS NET (now 6'eren) The Voice TV Denmark (later 7'eren, now defunct) Finland Kutonen TV5 Italy Retemia (defunct, joint ownership with Internova, Profit, and Videopiù, 1997–1999) Hungary TV2 Macedonia Sitel Sitel 2 Sitel 3 Kanal 5 Kanal 5 plus Netherlands SBS6 Net5 Veronica SBS9 Kijk.nl (web only) Norway TVNorge The Voice TV Norway (web only) FEM MAX VOX Poland TVN (joint ownership with ITI Group, 2000–2003) Portugal TVI (1996–1999) Romania Prima TV (also broadcast by cable in Moldova) Kiss TV (known as TV K Lumea before November 2006, now owned by Antenna Group) Sweden Kanal 5 Kanal 9 Kanal 11 The Voice TV Sweden (music, defunct) ONE Television (defunct) Switzerland TV3 (defunct, joint ownership with Tamedia, 1999–2001)
Radio stations Denmark The Voice POP FM NOVA FM Greece Lampsi 92.3 FM (now owned by Attica Editions) Norway Radio 1 The Voice Radio Norge (previously known as Kanal 24) Romania Kiss FM (previously known as Radio Contact, available in Moldova with local insertions) Magic FM One FM Rock FM Sweden Mix Megapol Rockklassiker The Voice Radio 107.5 Vinyl 107
Print Veronica (TV/Radio guide)
References
External links
SBS Radio Denmark Norway Sweden Greece