Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Modern Times Group
Report · January 1, 2017
Published by Modern Times Group
Modern Times Group (MTG) presented a comprehensive overview of its corporate responsibility performance for 2017, positioning itself as a global digital‑entertainment leader with approximately 3,700 employees and net sales of €16‑17 billion SEK. The report emphasizes MTG’s commitment to “media for good,” detailing initiatives that safeguard children through parental controls, audio‑description (covering 15 % of output) and subtitles (89 % of output), and noting a decline in broadcast‑compliance complaints to 49, with none upheld by Ofcom. Recognition of its children’s programming was underscored by a Kristallen award. Diversity and inclusion formed a central pillar of the strategy, with the workforce representing 59 nationalities and achieving near‑gender parity in Sweden and Finland (48 % women). The company set a 50/50 gender‑balance target for 2020, yet disclosed a persistent gender‑pay gap—women earned 66‑67 % of men’s basic salary, and female representation fell to 20 % at senior‑executive levels. Employee engagement remained high, reflected in an 84 % satisfaction rate and an 88 % sense of pride, while turnover stood at 16.5 %, driven primarily by male departures. Environmental performance revealed a 49.7 % increase in total greenhouse‑gas emissions versus 2016, largely attributable to the inclusion of MTGx operations and air travel, which accounted for roughly 70 % of emissions. Excluding air travel, emissions declined 12 % year‑on‑year, and overall energy consumption dropped from 71,782 GJ in 2015 to 51,459 GJ in 2017. The group’s external gaming arm, alongside its esports and digital‑entertainment divisions, contributed to a diversified portfolio spanning Europe and North America. Independent assurance by Ethos International confirmed compliance with GRI Core “in‑accordance” standards, identifying minor calculation errors and recommending enhancements in materiality analysis, equality and diversity focus, supplier code enforcement, and HR system integration. Stakeholder surveys and user testing were highlighted as effective mechanisms for aligning responsibility initiatives with customer expectations.
Corporate Responsibility Report 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report 2017 Responsible Entertainment is Better Entertainment Entertainment
Our Approach Business Ethics Letter from CR Team 3 Overview 40-41 Letter from CR Team 3 Overview 40-41 Letter from CEO 4-5 Highlights 42-43 Sustainable Development Goals 6 Guidelines & Policies 44-45 The Changing Roles of 7 Media Companies GDPR 46-47 CR Strategy and Materiality 8 How we Govern 48-49 MTG Overview 9-11 Memberships in Associations 50-51 Our Stakeholder Engagement 52-53 Media Responsibility Value Chains 54-55 Environmental Care Letter from CR Team Overview 12-13 Highlights 14-15 Overview Responsible Content Production 16-17 Environmental Team Work Responsible Online Content 18-19 Broadcast Compliance 20-21 About the Report Future of Broadcasting 22-23 Welcome to our 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report! Today, MTG is a team of approximately 3,700 people around the world. We are united by a passion to 56-57 create memorable experiences in music, sports, drama, reality shows, live esports events, mobile games - 58-59 and so much more! - and to connect our audiences with the content that they love. We are on an exciting journey to become a leading digital entertainer and, together, we can use the power of media to make a positive impact on people’s lives. We believe that responsible entertainment is better entertainment!
h more! - and to connect our audiences with the content that they love. We are on an exciting journey to become a leading digital entertainer and, together, we can use the power of media to make a positive impact on people’s lives. We believe that responsible entertainment is better entertainment! Social Impact boat te keport Diverse talent empowered by the same values and working towards the same goals can make a big and Social impact positive difference in all societies. BOL This is a responsibility we take seriously, which is why we have expanded our support in 2017 for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - a set of goals to protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all - by aligning our work and targets to specific SDGs. Objectives and Achievements 61-63 This report shows our progress and shares the lessons that we’ve learned along the way. Most importantly, Workforce Data 63-73 this report is a platform for our colleagues to talk about how our teams are shaping the future of Workforce Data by Business Segments entertainment. Whether it’s content production and distribution, legal work behind our innovative digital Overview 24-25 Corporate Giving Data 73-81 services, or talent acquisition initiatives, we aim to create working environments that embrace plurality Highlights 26-27 Environmental Data 81-82 and diversity of background, approaches and opinions. #weareMTG 28-29 82 Diversity & Equality 30-31 Financial Data 83 Explore our stories and get in touch to let us know what you think…or join us on our exciting journey.
environments that embrace plurality Highlights 26-27 Environmental Data 81-82 and diversity of background, approaches and opinions. #weareMTG 28-29 82 Diversity & Equality 30-31 Financial Data 83 Explore our stories and get in touch to let us know what you think…or join us on our exciting journey. #metoo 32-33 Compliance Data 83-84 Women in Esports 34-35 GRI Index 84-87 Women in Gaming 36 Report Boundaries and Scope 88 Christin Hertzberg Marija Angelovska Mauro Silva Safety & Security 37 Independent Assurance Statement 89-90 Senior Corporate Junior Corporate SVP, Head of Corporate Reach for Change 2017 38-39 Responsibility Manager Responsibility Manager Responsibility
Here are my personal highlights: the CEO WOMEN IN TECH 2017 #WITSTHLM2017 Since MTG was born in Sweden in 1987, we have been on a journey to ignite content experiences for our MTG has been included in the Our annual employee survey We welcomed over 70 talentever-growing audiences. ost 2017 Dow Jones Sustainabili- showed that 94% of respond- ed women to our offices in Our entrepreneurial spirit 2017 has been one of the most ty World Index - the industry ents are willing to make an ex- Stockholm on International has taken us far beyond successful years in MTG’s standard for corporate sus- tra effort to make MTG a more Women’s Day and encouraged commercial TV and the history: 8% organic sales tainability and the first global successful company. This is so them to pursue a career in borders of Sweden. This spirit growth, 19% profit growth We measure our efforts index to track the world’s important in the world where media and technology. We has enabled us to navigate and 33% total shareholder against the very highest stand- leading sustainability-driven new talent seeks purpose, also continued with our efforts a world that has changed so returns tell their own story. ards and globally recognised companies. From a total of 72 along with an opportunity to to support UN SDG number 5 much due to unprecedented This success is based on sustainability frameworks. media companies that are part make difference. by encouraging more gender technological progress and following a clear strategy and We are committed to the of the DSJI universe, only 6 equal work environments in major socio-economic shifts.
dented This success is based on sustainability frameworks. media companies that are part make difference. by encouraging more gender technological progress and following a clear strategy and We are committed to the of the DSJI universe, only 6 equal work environments in major socio-economic shifts. living according to our brand UN Global Compact, OECD media companies were in- our offices. Today we are a structurally values. It is also based on our Guidelines for Multinational cluded in the world index, and different company from what shared belief that responsible Enterprises, the UN Guiding MTG is one of them for the we were just a few years ago, entertainment is better Principles for Business and sixth consecutive year. We are and with perhaps the broadest entertainment. This is why Human Rights and UK Mod- also included in RobecoSAM’s entertainment offering in our Corporate Responsibility is ern Slavery Act. In 2017, we Sustainability Yearbook, industry. the cornerstone of our brand continued to further embed which helps investors to idenand a key reference point in the UN Sustainable Develop- tify companies that are well our decision-making. Our CR ment Goals into our corporate positioned to create long-term work focuses on four priority responsibility activities. shareholder value. areas: Media Responsibility, Our ambition and objectives MTG Sweden partnered with Social Impact, Business Ethics are clear, as are the challeng- the Swedish Diabetes Associ-
The 2016 corporate responsibility effort positions MTG’s transformation around four pillars—media responsibility, social impact, business ethics and environmental care—grounded in a materiality analysis that consulted more than 400 internal and external stakeholders and identified content quality as the top issue. The strategy aligns with the UN Global Compact, particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, and sets measurable targets such as a 20 % reduction in energy use by 2020. During the year MTG generated SEK 17.3 billion in net sales and SEK 1.35 billion in operating income while employing roughly 3,800 staff. The company secured inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and RobecoSAM’s Sustainability Yearbook, and reported a 7 % decline in total greenhouse‑gas emissions, supporting its environmental ambition. A 20 % energy‑use cut is pursued alongside a modest 13 % share of locally produced content. Social initiatives emphasized gender diversity through a fourth Women in Tech event, a “Women Up” leadership program for 30 high‑potential women, and internal role‑model promotion. Community programmes reached children in Bulgaria, Estonia and Latvia, covering obesity prevention, science outreach, adaptive sports, robotics and animal care. Governance was reinforced by a zero‑case record of confirmed corruption, a fully independent six‑member board, and a comprehensive data‑protection rollout that trained over 90 % of senior managers and prepared the organization for GDPR compliance. Corporate‑giving fell sharply, with media‑time donations down 55 % and cash contributions reduced to KSEK 1 217, while volunteer hours dropped to 374. Assurance by Ethos International confirmed overall data accuracy, noting minor calculation errors and recommending stronger HR data management and deeper integration of CSR into acquisition strategy. The scope covers all fully controlled MTG operations, subsidiaries, leased facilities and the 50 %‑owned GES Media Holding, excluding pay‑TV channels on third‑party platforms and markets no longer served, such as Ghana, Hungary, Russia, Tanzania and Ukraine.
The 2018 corporate‑responsibility overview for Modern Times Group (MTG) reflects a year of strategic realignment following the spin‑off of its Nordic Entertainment and Studios businesses into the newly listed Nordic Entertainment Group. The core thesis is that MTG’s renewed focus on esports, gaming and broader digital ventures can be pursued responsibly through four pillars—media responsibility, social impact, business ethics and environmental care—underpinned by materiality analyses for both entities and a suite of stakeholder‑driven priorities such as gender diversity, inclusion, GDPR compliance and the protection of minors. Financially, MTG reported net sales in the range of 15‑20 billion SEK and achieved an 89 % completion rate for mandatory ethics e‑learning. Risk management was strengthened by publishing event‑security guidance adopted by eight of twenty‑one partners, and by prioritising attendee safety at esports tournaments. Social contributions included a $18 k donation to UCSF, multi‑million‑dollar fundraising for Save the Children and the Diabetes Foundation, and the launch of education programmes targeting young gamers. Governance was reinforced through board oversight, external audits and memberships in more than a dozen industry bodies—including the IGDA, Esports Integrity Coalition and MESA—facilitating continuous stakeholder engagement via surveys, focus groups and board‑level dialogues. Environmental reporting showed a total carbon footprint of 25,215 t CO₂e, a 7 % year‑on‑year increase, while energy intensity fell sharply from 66 GJ per employee in 2016 to 40 GJ in 2018. Scope 3 emissions from events are now being captured, and no fines were recorded for direct energy use,
Modern Times Group positioned 2014 as a year of deepening corporate responsibility, linking its expanding digital portfolio to heightened standards in data‑privacy, child protection, freedom of expression and sanctions compliance. The narrative underscores a strategic shift toward embedding ethical, anti‑corruption and sustainability practices across a globally dispersed media operation. Financially, the company recorded net sales of SEK 16.7 billion, up from SEK 13.3 billion in 2012, while operating income contracted, reflecting investment in new digital initiatives. Governance was reinforced through a dedicated corporate‑responsibility advisory group, multiple board committees and local representatives, ensuring that compliance mechanisms permeated all levels of the organization. A UN‑Global Compact‑aligned system saw 787 employees endorse an anti‑bribery policy, the launch of a sanctions‑risk register and an Interpol‑backed anti‑piracy project, alongside comprehensive updates to data‑protection protocols. The workforce grew to 4,186 full‑time equivalents, achieving an 84 % appraisal completion rate and a zero‑fatality safety record, with work‑related accidents falling from ten to six. Diversity expanded to 44 nationalities and the gender‑pay gap narrowed to women earning 75
In 2015 the media group placed corporate responsibility at the core of its strategy, integrating ethical governance, sustainability and gender‑parity objectives across a global operation that spans 165 countries and includes broadcast, content localisation and e‑sports segments. The company achieved a 96 % compliance rate among 514 new hires—drawn from 38 nationalities—who signed a unified code of conduct, whistle‑blower and anti‑bribery policies aligned with the UN Global Compact and OECD guidelines, while stakeholder engagement was overseen by a dedicated board committee. Environmental performance showed mixed results: total carbon emissions rose 13 % since 2010, driven largely by travel that accounted for 61 % of emissions, and overall energy use increased 3 %. Nevertheless, the firm earned a 95 C rating on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the third consecutive time, a CDP disclosure score of 95 C, and operates a “green” office equipped with more than 200 solar panels. Targets for 2016 include a 23 % reduction in employee energy use (baseline 2010), expansion of renewable energy, and comprehensive data‑privacy training in response to upcoming EU legislation. Social impact was highlighted by a 91 % accessibility rate for