Viaplay Secures Exclusive Rights to Broadcast 2027 Ski World Championships in Falun

Viaplay has officially acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2027 Ski World Championships set to take place in Falun, Sweden, from February 24 to March 7, 2027. The announcement ends over four years of uncertainty following Falun’s selection as host by the International Ski Federation (FIS) in May 2022.

This development was confirmed by Viaplay and welcomed by key stakeholders, including Pernilla Bonde, Secretary General of the Swedish Ski Federation, who expressed excitement about the event and the broader reach Viaplay’s coverage will provide. The Swedish Ski Federation had voiced concerns during the prolonged negotiations, making this confirmation particularly significant. Viaplay’s sports manager, Erik Westberg, also highlighted the anticipated full stands and vibrant atmosphere in Falun, with hopes for Swedish athletes, including Frida Karlsson, to compete for medals on home snow.

In addition to the Ski World Championships, Viaplay will broadcast the 2027 Alpine World Championships in Crans-Montana and the freestyle and snowboard World Championships in Austria. The deal extends to rights for these championships in both 2027 and 2029, further consolidating Viaplay’s position as a major player in winter sports broadcasting.

Notably, this deal marks a setback for SVT, the Swedish public broadcaster, which lost the rights after last airing the Ski World Championships in 2021. SVT’s sports chief, Max Bursell, acknowledged their interest but confirmed the rights would go to Viaplay. Additionally, SVT has recently cut back on sports broadcasting, leading to budget constraints and the departure of expert commentator Mathias Fredriksson.

Speculation that Viaplay sought a partner to share the broadcasting costs has not been confirmed. Nevertheless, Viaplay looks forward to delivering comprehensive and engaging coverage of these major skiing events, continuing to attract and expand winter sports audiences across Sweden and beyond.

This announcement confirms Viaplay’s growing influence in Nordic sports broadcasting and ensures that the 2027 Ski World Championships in Falun will be widely accessible to fans eager to witness one of Sweden’s premier winter sports showcases.