Broadcasting Challenges Impact Swedish Fans as Team Advances in EM
Swedish fans face broadcasting restrictions during the EM, impacting viewership.
Key Points
- • Sweden secured a quarterfinal spot after beating Poland 3-0.
- • Matches are broadcast on Viaplay Sport, available only to select subscribers.
- • Frustration mounts among fans and players over access limitations.
- • Viaplay reported peak viewership of 821,000 for the Poland match.
As Sweden advances in the 2025 European Football Championship, fans face significant obstacles in accessing broadcasts of the national team's matches. Following a decisive 3-0 victory over Poland that secured a quarterfinal spot, the upcoming match against Tyskland will also be available on the Viaplay Sport channel, which is exclusive to customers holding the 'Viaplay Total' sports package from Tele 2. This restriction has created frustration among many supporters, as expressed by player Amanda Ilestedt, who lamented that not all fans could watch the matches due to these limitations.
Viaplay revealed that the match against Poland drew a peak viewership of 821,000, demonstrating considerable interest in Swedish football despite accessibility issues. Tele 2 defended their decision to limit access to Viaplay Sport, stating that incorporating it into less expensive packages would lead to higher costs for all customers, according to spokesperson Fredrik Hallstan. Looking ahead, while the quarterfinal will be available on SVT, viewers are hopeful for greater accessibility in potential semifinal and final matches on Viaplay.
As fan frustrations mount over these broadcasting restrictions, the hope remains that future negotiations may improve access, allowing more supporters to follow Sweden's journey in the tournament more closely.