Viasat 1 Gets New C.E.O.

Viasat Broadcasting G Ltd announced today that company Chief Operations Officer Charlotte Gustavsson has been named Chief Executive Officer from October 1st.

Gustavsson, who moved to Ghana close to a year ago after having worked with Viasat in Europe, will focus on growing the channel and developing Viasat 1’s team to best serve the needs of its steadily increasing viewer base.

Gustavsson has been the COO to Viasat 1 since November 2010 and has spearheaded many innovations at the channel since. Introduction of both the Champions League studio discussions, and the local News broadcast to name a few.

“Viasat 1 is poised for rapid growth, and I’m excited to be part of it,” said Gustavsson. “Viasat 1 is presently at number 2 on the Ghanaian free to air television market, with 22.9% share of viewing and it is our plan to not only be the number one entertainer but shortly the number one TV station in Ghana as well.

My mission is to take further market shares and bring the best possible TV entertainment to all Ghanaian viewers.” Gustavsson succeeds pioneering CEO, Rune Skogeng, who moves on to other duties within MTG.

Viasat 1’s programming currently includes quality African and Ghanaian productions, Award winning Hollywood programs such as the CSI Franchises and US movies; hugely patronized Latin- American telenovelas and the UEFA Champions League Wednesday matches.

Viasat 1 is part of the international broadcasting media group Modern Times Group MTG AB. Modern Times Group MTG AB is a leading international entertainment broadcasting group with the largest geographical broadcast footprint in Europe.

MTG's Viasat Broadcasting is the leading free-TV and pay-TV operator in Scandinavia and the Baltics, and has broadcasting operations in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Russia, Ukraine and Ghana. Viasat’s free-TV and pay-TV channels and pay-TV platforms attract a total of 125 million viewers in 31 countries.

MTG is the major shareholder in Russia's largest independent television broadcaster CTC Media, and the number one commercial radio operator in the Nordic region. Modern Times Group MTG AB class A and B shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX, Stockholm's Large Cap market ('MTGA' and 'MTGB').