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,
Framsida (collage) & fristående illustrationer: Anna Nilsson Text & analys: Johanna Nylander Dataspelsbranschen är en samarbetsorganisation för ANGI och Spelplan-ASGD. ANGI representerar förlag samt distributörer och Spelplan-ASGD representerar utvecklare Dataspelsbranschen | Swedish Games Industry Klara norra kyrkogata 31, Box 22307 SE-104 22 Stockholm Kontakt: [email protected] NYCKELTAL Förändring 2012-2017 Oms.
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.
16 | The State of The Finnish Game Industry 22 | Location of Companies and Clusters 36 | Trends and Future / Platforms and Genres 43| Trends and Future / Industry Framework 48 | The Industry Support and Networks 49 | Suomen Pelinkehittäjät ry 55 | IGDA Finland ry 4 72 | Studio Profiles (separate file) ABOUT THIS REPORT Cities: Skylines have conquered the world, and well over a billion people FOR almost a decade, our game all over the globe...
17 | The Founding Years of Studios 29| Financial Outlook ob 40 | Finnish game developer studios assn. Fingersoft • Hill Climb Racing Rovio Entertainment • Angry Birds, Supercell • Clash of Clans, Hay Day Two Men and a Dog • Zombie Catchers THE OLDEST Finnish game companies still in existence are turning 20 this year (2015).
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
In 2013 the media group embedded sustainability within its core strategy, aligning business growth with responsible practices and earning inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index and FTSE 4Good. Financially, the company generated €14.1 billion in net sales and €1.9 billion in operating profit while employing 3,361 staff and expanding into new European markets through the launch of its digital platform MTGx. Its corporate‑responsibility framework is built on four pillars—media responsibility, employees and workplace, environment and community, and business ethics—each supported by concrete actions and measurable targets.
Compliance and societal impact were central to operations. A dedicated “C‑Team” ensured that broadcast and on‑demand content met EU, UK (Ofcom, ASA) and local regulations, with 85 % of programming already adapted for regional standards. The group leveraged its TV, radio and digital assets for charitable campaigns, delivering more than €4.3 million in media‑time value for Typhoon Haiyan relief, €438 k for the “Angels over Latvia” tour, €115 k for a Lithuanian zoo‑elephant project, and additional support for health, education and wildlife initiatives across Ghana, Estonia, Sweden, Bulgaria and other markets.
Environmental performance improved markedly. The new London headquarters attained a BREEAM “Excellent” rating and installed roof‑mounted solar panels that now supply the majority of its electricity, producing a quantifiable reduction in CO₂ emissions. The company’s CDP climate‑change score rose to 88, reflecting stronger governance and disclosure. A materiality analysis highlighted data integrity, privacy and child‑online‑safety as top concerns, prompting new internal policies, anti‑corruption training completed by all staff, and an updated Code of Conduct with 78 % e‑learning uptake.
Gender equity showed progress
The 2012 Modern Responsibility report positions sustainability as a central driver of long‑term growth for MTG, outlining a strategic agenda that integrates environmental, social and governance objectives across its broadcast, radio and digital operations. The company set 2012 targets that focus on benchmarking training, revising supplier policies and tightening anti‑corruption controls, while maintaining net sales of roughly SEK 13 billion and seeing operating income decline to SEK 2.1 billion.
Corporate responsibility is organized around four pillars—Business, Community, Colleague, and Broadcast & Marketing—and is anchored in the UN Global Compact, OECD guidelines and local legislation. A publicly available Code of Conduct, anti‑corruption and whistle‑blower policies, and supplier principles support implementation across more than 30 broadcast markets. Content accessibility is emphasized, with 85 % of programming offered in subtitles, dubbing or voice‑over, and continuous e‑learning, including the MTG Academy’s sales and leadership programmes, is provided to staff.
Environmental performance improved markedly: CO₂ emissions fell 6 % per employee, surpassing the 5 % reduction goal, and 80 % of employees completed green‑thinking training. Power‑down measures limited standby consumption to under 0.5 W, while the Carbon Disclosure Project score rose from a D‑grade to a B‑grade. Partnerships with NGOs such as London Wildlife Trust, Earth Hour and Latvia’s “Big Clean‑up” mobilised 210 000 volunteers and removed 100 t of litter, illustrating the use of MTG’s media reach to promote greener consumer behaviour.
External assurance by Ethos International under AA1000AS granted a C+ rating, confirming overall confidence in the self‑reported data while noting minor data‑entry errors, incomplete site‑level reporting and a need for deeper stakeholder engagement and materiality analysis. The report therefore concludes that MTG largely met its 2012 sustainability targets, identified climate‑related risks, and instituted processes to mitigate them, reinforcing its commitment to responsible growth across a global, multi‑segment media portfolio.
The 2011 Modern Responsibility Report demonstrates how Modern Times Group (MTG) has integrated a comprehensive sustainability framework across its operations in 39 countries, targeting employee welfare, anti‑corruption, climate action and community engagement. By the end of 2011 the company achieved a 5 % reduction in carbon footprint per employee—equating to a 16 % total cut in emissions—and a 6 % per‑employee decline in CO₂ versus the 2009 baseline, while overall office energy use fell by the same 16 % margin. These environmental gains were accompanied by a record‑low incidence of work‑related accidents (zero) and consistently low absenteeism around one percent.
MTG’s expansion strategy in 2011 combined geographic and product growth, acquiring stakes in TV Prima, Darial TV and Balkan Media Group, launching Viasat HD, History HD and Nature HD in 22 Central‑ and Eastern‑European markets, and entering four African nations (Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya). The broadcasting arm, including Strix, continued to produce and co‑produce TV formats sold in more than 80 territories, while its gambling subsidiary Bet24 remained a marginal revenue source subject to strict responsible‑gaming controls.
Stakeholder dialogue was institutionalised through a GRI‑aligned materiality analysis, enabling MTG to meet 14 of 15 short‑term sustainability targets for the year. Employee turnover averaged 18 % among 3,031 staff (mean age 34) and training participation rose, though the rollout of anti‑bribery e‑learning was deferred for policy refinement. The whistle‑blower system recorded only two operational reports, underscoring a relatively clean compliance environment.
Community contributions
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