The Council of State has today granted Sanoma-WSOY Oyj's subsidiaries two new digital TV operating licenses and Channel Four Finland a digital TV operating license. The new digital channels are Helsinki Media's movie channel and WSOY's educational channel. Helsinki Media is also a shareholder in Suomen Urheilutelevisio Oy. All the licenses were granted for ten years.

Sanoma-WSOY Oyj's President and CEO Mr. Jaakko Rauramo takes a positive view to the objective of the Council of State to discontinue analogue TV distribution by the end of 2006.

Helsinki Media's movie channel (Elokuvakanava)

Helsinki Media's digital movie channel is a pay-tv service. The program offering of the channel will be planned and co-ordinated with Canal+ to ensure a versatile movie offering to customers.

WSOY's educational channel

Werner Söderström Corporation's educational channel is designed as support for education in learning institutions, companies and for independent studies. The channel will be mainly financed by subscriber fees charged for its content.

Channel Four Finland

Oy Ruutunelonen Ab's digital TV channel (Channel Four Finland), financed with advertising revenues, will provide both analogue programs and programs that can be received only in digital distribution.

Suomen Urheilutelevisio Oy

Suomen Urheilutelevisio Oy has been granted a license to operate a sports channel, owned by MTV Oy (50 %) and Helsinki Media Company Oy (50 %). Negotiations are going on with the Finnish Sports Federation, Oy Veikkaus Ab and Suomen Hippos to expand the ownership base. The sports channel will be partly financed with advertising revenues and partly operate as a pay-TV.

SANOMA-WSOY OYJ


Jaakko Rauramo
President and CEO

Additional information: Mr. Tapio Kallioja, President, Helsinki Media; tel. +358 9 120 4200 or +358 400 406 236 Mr. Jyri Ahti, Vice President, Corporate Development, WSOY; tel. +358 9 6168 3541 or +358 400 793 977 and Mr. Jussi Lähde, Vice President, Corporate Development, Channel Four; tel. +358 9 4545 290 or +358 40 594 4444.


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