This factsheet provides a brief overview of how television is structured and regulated in the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. It outlines the legal and institutional frameworks governing licensing, terrestrial broadcasting, public service obligations, and must-carry rules.
Television in the Nordics operates within a shared European regulatory framework under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), complemented by national legislation and media authorities in each country. Despite ongoing digital transformation and the growth of streaming services, terrestrial broadcasting infrastructure and public service media institutions remain central to ensuring universal access to news and nationwide television coverage, including in remote areas.