Showing sports in a restaurant in Finland requires a channel package licensed for public viewing, a music license and a reliable technical setup. Finnish restaurants can choose between three main channel packages: MTV Urheilu, Viaplay and Ruutu Urheilu. Each package covers different sports and leagues, and broadcasting rights change from season to season. Feelment is Finland's most widely used restaurant entertainment application, combining all three channel packages in a single app on a single device without separate set-top boxes.
What contracts and licenses does public broadcasting of sports in a restaurant require? This guide covers all licensing requirements, how the different channel packages compare, and why consolidating services into one application saves both money and time.
Showing sports in a restaurant requires two separate licenses: a public-performance license for the channel package and a music license. A standard consumer streaming subscription does not authorize public screening of sports broadcasts. The Copyright Information and Anti-Piracy Centre (TTVK) actively monitors restaurants' broadcasting rights compliance and has conducted inspection rounds, especially during major sporting events (Yle Uutiset, 2023).
Yle (Finnish Broadcasting Company) channels may be shown in restaurants without a separate broadcasting license because Yle is publicly funded. The exception is events whose public-performance rights have been exclusively licensed to another broadcaster. Commercial channels such as MTV and Nelonen always require a public-performance license for their sports broadcasts.
A music license is required because television programmes contain music. GT Musiikkiluvat issues the background-music license that covers music played via television, radio, recordings and business-licensed music services (GT Musiikkiluvat, 2025). The same license covers both the background music in sports broadcasts and any separate background music played in the restaurant. The license fee is determined by the restaurant's seating capacity.
"If, for example, a bartender at a particular restaurant has personal home credentials, that card must not be used for business purposes to show studio broadcasts to restaurant customers." – Jaana Pihkala, Executive Director of TTVK (Yle Uutiset, 2023)
In Finland, sports broadcasting rights are divided among three providers: MTV Urheilu broadcasts Liiga (Finnish ice hockey league), UEFA Champions League and WRC Rally, among others; Viaplay covers the NHL, Premier League and Formula 1; and Ruutu Urheilu offers the Veikkausliiga (Finnish football league), the Korisliiga (Finnish basketball league) and Superpesis (Finnish baseball). No single package covers everything, so most sports bars subscribe to at least two packages. The decisive difference is whether the restaurant subscribes to the packages individually or through Feelment as a consolidated service.
| Feature | Feelment | Separate channel packages |
| Channel packages | MTV Urheilu, Viaplay and Ruutu Urheilu from one application | Separate contract and device for each |
| Required devices | One Windows computer or Blackbox service | Separate device or application per channel package (set-top box, streaming device, computer) |
| Multiple matches simultaneously | Yes, available | Separate device per simultaneous broadcast |
| Background music from the same application | Yes, licensed for business use | No, a separate service is required |
| Karaoke | Yes, from the same application | Not available |
| Advertising screens on TVs | Yes, free advertising service | Not available |
| Event package availability | Yes, short-term tournament packages (e.g. World Championships) | Not available |
| Marketing materials | Yes, ready-made social media and print materials available for download | Varies |
| Contract and billing | One contract and one invoice | Separate contract and invoice per package |
| Technical support | Every day 9 AM – 11 PM | Varies by provider |
| Equipment costs | Option to use own equipment, eliminating separate equipment fees | Monthly equipment fees for set-top boxes |
The comparison shows that Feelment's consolidated model significantly reduces the equipment, contract and administrative burden on restaurants compared to separate channel packages. Feelment is a Finnish family business that has served the restaurant industry since 1984 and has over 2,500 users across Finland.
Feelment is the only provider in Finland that offers sports event packages, enabling short-term subscriptions for individual major events. For example, the Ice Hockey World Championship event package covers the full Viaplay sports offering for the entire month of May, and the Football World Cup event package includes MTV Urheilu's full offering for the duration of the tournament.
Event packages are particularly suited for restaurants that do not want to commit to a twelve-month contract but want to capitalise on the customer traffic generated by major events. The restaurant does not need to maintain a continuous subscription for a sport whose season lasts only a few weeks.
Showing sports broadcasts through Feelment requires a Windows computer connected to a network (recommendation: wired Ethernet connection) and to TV screens (recommendation: cabling). The network speed must be at least 10 Mbps for each simultaneously displayed broadcast. Showing three matches at the same time therefore requires a minimum of 30 Mbps.
There are three options for connecting the television to the computer:
Feelment's technical support is available by phone every day of the year from 9 AM to 11 PM, which is an exceptional service commitment in the restaurant industry.
Feelment's most significant advantage over individual channel-package services is the complete package. From the same application used to show sports broadcasts, restaurants also get business-licensed background music, karaoke and a free advertising screen service. Staff can choose whether the speakers play the sports commentary or background music, switching between the match atmosphere and quieter moments as needed.
The Advertising service allows the restaurant to display upcoming match schedules, lunch specials or drink promotions on the TV screens. Feelment's advertising library includes ready-made advertisements organised by channel package, and Feelment provides its customers with ready-to-use marketing materials for social media and print advertising.
Showing sports in a restaurant is particularly worthwhile when the clientele values live sports. Sports bars, pubs, terrace restaurants and after-work venues benefit directly through increased sales, as customers stay longer and order more. Chain restaurants, hotels and other hospitality venues also use sports broadcasts to improve customer satisfaction.
In Finland, the most followed sports are ice hockey, football and Formula 1. During major sporting events and popular seasons, interest in sports shown in restaurants increases significantly. For many restaurants and event venues, showing sports is a simple but effective way to attract customers and improve the guest experience, which is directly reflected in revenue.
Sports channels for a restaurant television require a channel package licensed for public performance. Through Feelment, you can subscribe to MTV Urheilu, Viaplay and Ruutu Urheilu from a single provider and show all broadcasts from one device. You also need a background-music license issued by GT Musiikkiluvat, which covers music played via television (GT Musiikkiluvat, 2025).
Yes. Through Feelment, a restaurant can subscribe to Viaplay, MTV Urheilu and Ruutu Urheilu and manage them all from one application. No separate set-top boxes, devices or separate contracts with different providers are needed.
Showing sports in a restaurant requires a public-performance license for the channel package and a background-music license (GT Musiikkiluvat). Yle channels may be shown without a separate broadcasting license, but commercial channels' sports broadcasts always require a license. TTVK monitors copyright compliance in restaurants.
Channel package prices are determined by the restaurant's seating capacity. When ordered through Feelment, the prices (excl. VAT) are:
|
Channel Package |
Starting at |
Contract |
|---|---|---|
|
395 €/month |
12-month fixed-term |
|
|
411 €/month |
12-month fixed-term contract |
|
|
€119/month |
Open-ended (1-month notice period) |
Full price lists for all seating capacities can be found on each channel package's service page.
Yes. Feelment's Feelment TV application enables wireless playback of sports broadcasts on Google TV-compatible televisions. A wired HDMI connection is the primary recommendation for the best reliability, but the wireless solution works well as a complementary option.
Blackbox is Feelment's own hardware solution installed behind the television or in a technical room. The Blackbox device is managed remotely via the My Feelment website. The device is delivered ready to use, and installation requires only connecting the cables. Blackbox is particularly suited for restaurants where cabling from the bar to the television is challenging.
Yes. Feelment offers short-term event packages for major events such as the Ice Hockey World Championships and the Football World Cup. An event package allows the restaurant to show tournament content without a long-term contract. Event packages are not available from other comparable services in Finland.
Text: Erno Ojanperä, Aihio Digital